The Launching of Ramani Zetu, Sauti Zetu Project
By Asha Mustapher and Aisha Hamis
On 29th Jan 2026, OpenMap Development Tanzania (OMDTZ), proudly launched Ramani Zetu Sauti Zetu project, a project funded by Zayed Sustainability Prize under the Climate Action category. The event brought together high-level government officials, local government authorities, DarMAERT, the Red Cross, and other flood response stakeholders, with Colonel Selestine Masalamado, Assistant Director of Operations and Disaster Management at the Prime Minister’s Office, as the Guest of Honor. The inception workshop officially introduced the project’s objectives, scope, and implementation approach, while providing a platform to align roles, expectations, and coordination mechanisms among stakeholders. It also enabled validation of the project design through government and partner inputs, strengthened collaboration between communities and government actors on disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action, and ensured alignment with national and regional disaster management priorities.
The Ramani Zetu Sauti Zetu project was built on the foundation of the Ramani Huria project, which set a national precedent for community-based mapping to enhance flood resilience in Dar es Salaam. Ramani Huria empowered communities, local government, and emergency responders to create and utilize open locally verified spatial data to identify flood-prone areas, map drainage infrastucture and enhance disaster preparedness plans and response.
The project carries this legacy forward while expanding its scope both geographically and strategically. Whereas Ramani Huria focused on mapping and community engagement, the new initiative introduces critical elements that enable communities to act on data. This includes supporting the development of community-based early warning systems such as Sirens, repairing drains, designing localized disaster preparedness plans, stronger coordination with government and humanitarian actors, and awareness campaigns to drive behavior change.
The project is a 2-year project that will be implemented in Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Morogoro. Over the next two years, 36 wards will be benefited by this project ( 20 wards in Dar es Salaam, 8 wards in Pwani, and 8 wards in Morogoro). The selected wards have been affected by seasonal floods and have high community vulnerability and lack adequate mapping and preparedness data. Many wards are near rivers, which are characterized by informal settlements, weak infrastructure, and limited resources increase risk.
“The challenges that arise are mainly geographical, where citizens often do not recognize the areas that indicate risk. These maps will help us understand, and citizens will recognize which areas are risky, and which areas are safe to live in or to carry out various community activities.” Roseline William Kimaro — Regional Disaster Coordinator (Pwani).
The project will benefit approximately 350,000+ Communities by training community members, including youth and women, in mapping and data collection. Empower Local leaders and elders with skills in map use and access to practical tools for disaster preparedness at the community level. Drones and other technologies will be used to create accurate maps of flood-prone areas. Data collected will support risk reduction planning, while cleanup events and school awareness programs will actively engage communities and foster ownership of local solutions. Partnerships with government and stakeholders will ensure the project leaves a lasting impact.
This initiative offers more than just knowledge and data. It will equip leaders and communities with tools they can use to prepare, strengthen planning, and guide response during flooding. Youth and women gain skills that open opportunities for engagement, employment, and leadership.
We invite you to follow our journey. Stay updated on social media and our website to see how Ramani Zetu, Sauti Zetu is making communities stronger, safer, and more prepared.
Together, we are mapping a safer future.
