- For readers who may be unfamiliar, what is TangaYetu, and why does it focus on public space as a driver of urban development and community well-being?
In Tanga City, rapid urbanization has left many young people struggling to find economic opportunity, safe spaces to gather, and a voice in shaping their city’s future. TangaYetu, part of Fondation Botnar’s OurCity initiative, takes a different approach. Rather than treating these challenges separately, the project reimagines public spaces as entry points for transformation, places where young people can build livelihoods, strengthen community bonds, and shape their city.
The initiative brings together young people, the Tanga City Council, civil society organizations, policymakers, and the private sector to drive social, economic, and technological change. By investing in inclusive public spaces that sit at the intersection of social, economic, and civic life, TangaYetu supports entrepreneurship, strengthens social cohesion, and improves overall urban well-being.
- Many African cities are grappling with rapid urbanisation and limited public infrastructure. What challenges around public space were you seeing in Tanga, and how did Jamhuri Park emerge as a solution?
Before its redevelopment, Jamhuri Park was underutilised and poorly maintained, despite being centrally located and historically important to the city. Like many African cities, Tanga faced rapid urban growth without matching investment in public infrastructure. Public spaces were often seen as cost centres rather than assets, leading to neglect, safety concerns, and limited community ownership.
Jamhuri Park emerged as a solution by reimagining public space as a productive, inclusive, and self-sustaining asset. Through collaboration between the city council, communities, and TangaYetu, the park was redesigned to support recreation, small businesses, cultural events, and social interaction. The project demonstrated that with the right design and management model, public spaces can respond to urbanisation pressures while delivering social and economic value.
Before the redevelopment, the park hosted only one vendor. After the redevelopment, it now accommodates around 50 vendors and service providers, the majority of whom are young people from Tanga City. This has contributed to a significant increase in city revenue, as these vendors pay rent and taxes to the City Council.
- Jamhuri Park was developed through a co-creation approach that has since been replicated in cities like Dodoma, Arusha, and Mwanza. Why was co-creation central to the redevelopment of Jamhuri Park, and how did the community influence the project’s outcomes?
Co-creation was central to the redevelopment of Jamhuri Park, and this process began with a feasibility study supported by TangaYetu before any physical redevelopment took place. Through this study, community members, young people, vendors, artists, and city officials were actively engaged to understand how the park was being used, what challenges existed, and what opportunities the space could offer.
Rather than applying a top-down design, the findings from the feasibility study informed a shared vision for the park. Community input shaped decisions on space use, the types of businesses to be accommodated, safety and accessibility features, and the overall management approach. This early and meaningful engagement created a strong sense of ownership among users. As a result, Jamhuri Park is perceived as a community asset rather than a government project, a factor that has been critical to its success and has inspired similar co-creation approaches in other Tanzanian cities.
- Since its redevelopment, Jamhuri Park has supported 50 young entrepreneurs, created short-term jobs during construction, and significantly increased city revenue. Which outcome best reflects TangaYetu’s goals, and why?
While all these outcomes are important, the support for young entrepreneurs best reflects TangaYetu’s goals. Economic opportunity is central to young people’s well-being, especially in urban settings where unemployment and informal work are common. Creating space for youth-led businesses within Jamhuri Park, the project turned a public space into a platform for livelihoods.
This outcome also connects the social and economic dimensions of urban development. Young entrepreneurs benefit from affordable, visible business spaces, while the city benefits from increased revenue and a more vibrant public space. Importantly, this aligns with TangaYetu’s aim to create systemic, long-term change that improves both individual livelihoods and city systems.
- Revenue generated from businesses and events at Jamhuri Park is now reinvested into park maintenance, urban infrastructure, and community services. How important is this reinvestment model for sustaining public spaces, and what governance lessons does it offer other African cities?
The reinvestment model is critical because it makes public spaces financially sustainable and reduces reliance on external funding. When reinvesting revenue back into maintenance and community services, Jamhuri Park avoids the common cycle of initial investment followed by long-term neglect.
From a governance perspective, the model shows that transparency and clear roles matter. The city council plays a stewardship role, while users and businesses understand how their contributions support the space. This builds trust and accountability. For other African cities, the lesson is that public spaces can be managed as public assets rather than liabilities. With the right policies and management structures, they can generate revenue, support livelihoods, and fund their own upkeep.
- As TangaYetu Phase I focused on public space redevelopment, how does the experience of Jamhuri Park inform your long-term vision for inclusive urban development and community well-being in Tanga?
Jamhuri Park showed us that inclusive urban development is possible when people, systems, and spaces are addressed together. It also demonstrated that public spaces can be entry points for broader change, influencing economic empowerment, social cohesion, and trust between citizens and local government.
In the long term, TangaYetu aims to apply these lessons across other sectors. The vision is a city where young people actively shape their environment and benefit from it. Jamhuri Park is not an isolated success; it is a prototype for how Tanga can grow in a way that is inclusive, resilient, and centred on community well-being.
