POLICY BRIEF Albert Nyiti and Emmanuel Njavike Building Tanzania’s Urban Future The Need for a National Housing Policy Executive Summary Tanzania faces an annual housing shortfall of about 200,000 units, a predicament exacerbated by swift urbani ­zation, informality, and escalating living expenses. Present housing interventions are disjointed among ministries, agencies, and financial institutions, characterized by over ­lapping tasks and a lack of cohesive policy direction. Both DIRA 2050 and the CCM Manifesto 2025–2030 unequivo ­cally assert that access to adequate and affordable housing constitutes a fundamental human right, essential for en ­hancing individual well-being, maintaining societal stabili ­ty, and transforming the economy. This policy brief asserts that Tanzania urgently needs a stand-alone National Hous­ing Policy to transform these pledges into a unified and implementable national framework. A stand-alone housing policy will elucidate institutional responsibilities, enhance governance and accountability, facilitate inclusive housing finance, formalize and support large-scale self-built hous ­ing, stimulate job creation and local economic develop ­ment, and synchronize national initiatives with global com ­mitments. A housing policy is not only vital for ensuring dignity but also for fostering development and promoting national prosperity. 1. The Problem: A Systemic Housing Crisis Without a Coordinating Policy 1.1 Fragmented Institutional Landscape Currently, the following institutions share responsibility for housing at different levels: → Ministry of Lands Housing and Human Settlements De ­velopment(MLHHSD): policy, planning, land allocation), → National Housing Corporation(NHC): commercial hous ­ing development → Tanzania Building Agency(TBA) and Watumishi Hous ­ing Corporation(WHC): public servant housing → Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Lo ­cal Government(PMO–RALG): local planning authority and development control for housing development → Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company(TMRC)& Min ­istry of Finance(MoF): housing finance Building Tanzania’s Urban Future 1