The need to strengthen water security and sanitation systems against growing climate risks has taken centre stage as the Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Dawasa) showcases its projects at the 12th Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP12).
The authority is participating in the meeting, which opened in Dar es Salaam on October 6, bringing together more than 500 delegates from countries that are party to the Nairobi Convention under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The conference is addressing the protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, with climate change, pollution and pressure from growing populations among the challenges facing the region.
Dawasa's participation places the city's water and sanitation needs within the wider climate and environmental debate, particularly as rapid urbanisation increases demand for reliable water and sanitation services.
Among the leaders who visited the Dawasa pavilion was Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Youth Development, Joel Nanauka, who called for greater public awareness of climate change and its implications for the water sector.
Mr Nanauka said communities needed more education on the effects of climate change, particularly its potential impact on water availability and related services.
At the pavilion, Dawasa is showcasing sanitation projects in Mbezi Beach and Buguruni, alongside the Kidunda Dam project, which is intended to strengthen water supply and improve resilience to climate-related pressures.
The projects highlight the growing link between water supply, sanitation and environmental management, particularly in a rapidly expanding city such as Dar es Salaam.
For residents, climate resilience in the water sector is increasingly important as extreme weather, population growth and urban expansion put additional pressure on infrastructure and water resources.
The Nairobi Convention provides a regional framework for countries around the Western Indian Ocean to coordinate efforts to protect marine and coastal environments while addressing pressures that threaten the sustainability of the region's natural resources.
The COP12 meeting is expected to strengthen regional cooperation on environmental protection and identify practical measures for improving the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems.