Tanzania's Infrastructure Transformation: AfDB-Funded Projects Drive Growth and Connectivity

Strategic Insights -

President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently inspected several African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded projects in Tanzania, highlighting their strategic importance in bolstering the country's economic transformation, regional connectivity, and administrative capital development. The projects, including the Sh330 billion Msalato International Airport, are expected to ease congestion and meet the increasing demand for efficient transport infrastructure in Dodoma. President Hassan emphasized that Dodoma is strategically located along two key transnational corridors, connecting Dar es Salaam with Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Trans-African Highway linking Cape Town to Cairo.

Key Takeaways:

  • The African Development Bank has provided $9 billion in funding to Tanzania since its inception, with $4.73 billion disbursed during Dr. Akinwumi Adesina's tenure from 2015 to 2025.
  • President Samia Suluhu Hassan highlighted the strategic importance of AfDB-funded projects, including the Msalato International Airport and the Dodoma Outer Ring Road, in supporting Dodoma's rapid urban and economic growth.
  • The Dodoma Outer Ring Road project is 89.8 percent complete, with the first phase built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and supervised by Inter-Consult Ltd, while the second phase is being executed by Avic International Engineering Company in partnership with Arab Constructing Company.
  • The Msalato International Airport project comprises two main components, with the first package valued at Sh165 billion and executed by Sinohydro Company Ltd, covering movement areas including the runway, taxiways, and aircraft aprons, which is 89.9 percent complete.
  • The airport will feature a 3,600-metre runway, aprons for aircraft parking, an Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) system, Category III Instrument Landing System (ILS), internal roads, a 500-vehicle car park, a 41.3km security fence, and essential utility infrastructure.
  • The airport will have the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers annually and comply with ICAO Code 4E standards, making it one of the region's largest airports.
  • The project has created 922 jobs, with 867 for Tanzanians and 55 for foreign workers, and over 2,000 people have indirectly benefited from the initiative, along with complementary services such as schools, health centres, and tree-planting initiatives.

Statistics:

  • The African Development Bank has disbursed $4.73 billion to Tanzania since 2015, representing 53% of the total funding provided.
  • The Msalato International Airport project has created 633 jobs in the movement areas phase, supported by 156 machines, and 522 people are employed in the second phase, 93.5% of whom are Tanzanians.
  • The airport will have a 3,600-metre runway and will be able to handle 1.5 million passengers annually.
  • The project has created over 2,000 indirect jobs and has initiated complementary services such as schools, health centres, and tree-planting initiatives.

Sources:

  • African Development Bank (AfDB)
  • President Samia Suluhu Hassan's speech
  • Tanroads Director Mohamed Besta's statement
  • Works Minister Abdallah Ulega's statement
  • Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa's statement
  • Former President Jakaya Kikwete's statement