Beyond doubt water is vital in promoting the population's well-being and quality of the urban environment. However, in the cities of the developing countries, the supply of water does not match water demand. This paper briefly present part of findings of a study carried out in Dodoma Municipality on Promoting Low Income Housing for Livelihoods of Low Income Households. The aim of the paper is to create awareness of the public on the impact of water reforms on the urban environment in Dodoma Municipality. Concerning methodology, the intensive fieldwork was carried out in four study areas namely Chidachi, Chilewa, Chadulu and Maweni because the neighbourhoods have used piped water for a decade thus have adequate and accessible data and information on the impact of water reforms on the urban environment in Dodoma Municipality. Specifically, the study investigated the impact of water reforms on the urban environment in Dodoma Municipality. Data collection methods were documentary review, physical observation, interviews and focus group discussions. The data was analysed by using computer software namely IBM SPSS Statistics. The study found that one of the water reforms was commercialization of water service delivery. The water authorities got autonomy on water supply. To improve water services, new water tariffs were introduced as a result there was overly high burden water costs which in turn limited availability of water for irrigating flower gardens. For instance, out of 34 institutions involved in the study four have developed and maintained flower gardens. In addition, 35 households out of 240 respondents involved in the study had flower gardens. The paper concludes that water reforms have brought about negative impacts on the urban environment. Socially, the water reforms have largely benefited members of the high income households who occupy a relatively small area of the urban population. In Dodoma, the high income households also own plots in unplanned settlements. However, due to dispersed nature of the high income plots their flower gardens have improved urban vista at the household level but failed to bring out beauty vista of the entire urban environment. Basing on the findings, the paper recommends that there is a need to review water tariffs to encourage urban environmental groups to efficiently promote flower gardens. Promoting flower gardens will first beautify the urban environment. Secondly, promote flower gardens will increase employment opportunities. More people will be employed by the environmental groups in growing pot flowers, in landscaping and selling pot flowers.

Contraceptive use has been shown to increase rapidly in Tanzania in recent years, but it remains unclear whether exposure to messages about contraceptive through multimedia has a positive influence to use and at what magnitude. This paper used a cross-sectional data from 67 women of reproductive age collected in 2014 about the effects of multimedia on women contraceptive use at Kiranyi ward in Arumeru District in Arusha. The data were used to examine extent of multimedia in promoting contraceptive use among these women, the influence of multimedia on women contraceptive use and determining the association between multimedia and women contraceptive use. IBM SPSS Statistics version 20 was used for data analysis. Findings indicated that about 61.2% Radio and 20.9% Television are the common media used in promoting women contraceptive use. Multimedia shows a great influence on women contraceptive use as 82.1% of the women interviewed claimed to have adapted contraceptive use after they heard contraceptive use advertisement from media. Media information affects women contraceptive use behavior through changing attitudes, adapting contraceptive use. Findings also revealed that there is an association between multimedia and women contraceptive use at p<0.001 in which 82.1% of the women of reproductive age interviewed in the study area adopted contraceptive use after heard contraceptive information from the media. It was concluded that multimedia family planning promotion had an effect on women contraceptive use. The Researcher recommended that responsible players should strengthen multimedia messages to ensure effective dissemination of contraceptive use information hence create enough knowledge and awareness on understanding proper women contraceptive use.

This study explores the management of forest resources from perspective of rural communities and other stakeholders who use those resources in different ways for a wide variety of reasons. The purpose of this study was to identify and understanding key issues related conflicting interests of different stakeholders in governing and utilization of forest resources. The relationships between forest resources and people are mediated through institutions. Institutional arrangements shape resource access and control, and are fundamental to understanding patterns of stakeholders’ interests. This study grouped stakeholders into three groups, which were regulators, facilitators and users with different interests with regard to conservation and use of forest resources. Combining a focus on securing livelihoods with rural community negotiating and decision making processes enables this study to discuss and analyze among different stakeholders which is a key to achievement of more equitable forest resource management and distribution of benefits. This study analyzed and understands conflicting interests of different stakeholders that take place within community as a result of governing, and utilization of forest resources.

The general objective of this study was to assess the challenges of controlling the development of informal settlements in Arusha city council. Ngarenaro Ward an informal settlements was used as a study area. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected through household survey, key informant interview and field observation. Descriptive statistical and content analysis were employed in data analysis. The results showed that there are various driving causes of informal settlements as scarcity of land resource, long government process of providing planned and survey urban land or plots, level of education and income level differences. Other driving factors were poverty, ineffective housing policy, trusted local institutions and urbanization. Plot survey, regularization progammes, tittle deed provisions and squatter upgrading projects are strategies initiated by government planning authorities to reduce informal settlement and economically empower the poor. Upgrading of informal settlement is part of the national housing programme, which aims to address the country’s housing challenges. In minimizing these challenges like change of land use values and uses, rapid urbanization, high planning standards, land laws and regulation and lack of resources, Arusha city council has been taking different measures to reduce informal settlements as ongoing preparation of Arusha Master Plan, Poverty reduction and Business Formalization projects.

This study assessed Woodstock, species richness, tree diversity and Importance Value Index (IVI) of Chenene Forest Reserve (CFR). Forest inventory carried out in 120 systematically selected sample plots. The forest was post stratified into disturbed and undisturbed strata. The information recorded includes: diameter at breast height, species name, Geographical Positioning System (GPS) readings, and frequency of the species. Indicators of human activities such as charcoal kilns, pitsawing, burnt area and grazing signs. Analysis of the inventory data was done using Microsoft Excel. The inventory carried out in 2011 revealed that average number of stems per hectare (N), basal areas per hectare G (m2ha-1), and volume per hectare V (m3ha-1) as 352 35.20 (SE), 6.84 0.68 (SE) and 44.68 4.47 (SE) respectively. The parameters between disturbed and undisturbed strata in this study revealed low parameters in disturbed stratum as compared to undisturbed strata were 567± 87.37 stems ha-1, Basal area 11.21± 1.10m2ha-1 and volume 71.21± 7.00 m3ha-1 in undisturbed forest stratum and 246± 15.00 stems ha-1, Basal area 3.25±0.20 m2ha-1 and volume 17.92 ± 1.00 m3ha-1. The study identified 95 species and the Shannon- Index of 4.17. The study concludes that CFR is potential for having high tree diversity and is fairly stocked to provide products and services to the surrounding communities. The study recommends starting Joint Forest Management (JFM), Preparation of management plans and good governance in the management of CFR.