By Amedeus Kimaro and Msilikale Msilanga

Continuous trainings and learning of new tools and technologies to the Government officials is one of those avenues that exposes experts who are working in the government offices to gain skills for decision making in order to make urbanized cities more resilient. The two days training about Hydrological Simulation Rainfall-Runoff Model which was conducted in Tanga have provided skills to the Government officials about critical water resource management tools and techniques. This training was organized by GIZ to provide training to the Government officials from Tanga. Resilience Academy was lucky to be part of the participants.

The training, expertly facilitated by RSK Environment (Tanzania) Ltd, brought together key stakeholders including the Pangani Basin Water Board (PBWB), Tanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Tanga UWASA), and other local water management experts. Participants gained hands-on experience with essential software tools, including HYSIM for rainfall-runoff simulation, QGIS for spatial analysis, and Digital Terrain Models for watershed analysis.

Throughout the two-day intensive program, participants developed crucial technical capabilities in several areas:

• Understanding and applying hydrological modeling principles using HYSIM
• Processing complex rainfall and climate datasets
• Utilizing GIS tools for detailed watershed analysis
• Performing model calibration and validation
• Evaluating water abstraction impacts on communities

The practical benefits of this training are already becoming apparent in the daily operations of participating organizations. Officials can now make more informed decisions about water allocation, better assess flood risks, and plan infrastructure improvements based on solid data analysis. Furthermore, the training has strengthened environmental conservation efforts by providing tools to maintain environmental flows and prevent erosion. With the Resilience Academy’s involvement, there is now an opportunity to disseminate this valuable knowledge to other stakeholders across Tanzania. This training represents a significant step forward in building urban resilience through data-driven water resource management, ensuring that government officials have the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions for sustainable urban development.