Scale-dependent co-production of sanitation solutions in urban Tanzania

Haule, Kelvin and Roy, Manoj and Pickup, Roger and Semple, Kirk T. (2025) Scale-dependent co-production of sanitation solutions in urban Tanzania. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development: washdev202. ISSN 2043-9083

Abstract

Improving sanitation services in Sub-Saharan African cities remains a challenge. While the co-production approach is arguably the most promising, it is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Co-produced arrangements often emerge from micro-level grassroots initiatives, meso-scale experimentation producing scalable solutions, or political mandate-aligning initiatives at the macro-level. This paper examines three co-produced sanitation initiatives at these three levels in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It finds that co-produced solutions require being a ‘constructive alternative’ to existing municipal provisions to leverage porous bureaucracy, enhance political acceptance, and secure community buy-in. Scale jumping could occur top-down or bottom-up, but it takes time. The municipal government has an important role to play in the initiatives to flourish and strive to achieve scale.