ORCID
Abstract
The Kilombero Basin in southeastern Tanzania faces significant challenges due to rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes driven by climate change, population growth, and unsustainable farming practices. This study assessed the role of community engagement and digital reporting through the 'NITUNZE KILOMBERO', mobile application in supporting water resources management in the basin. The App facilitates real-time reporting of environmental issues, provides educational resources, and enables collaboration between local communities and authorities. A mixed-methods approach, including household surveys and key informant interviews, was employed to assess the app's effectiveness. Results indicate high community awareness of LULC impacts, with 85% of respondents recognizing the link between land use changes and water availability. The App is noted to have improved response times to environmental issues and increased community participation in monitoring. However, challenges such as limited smartphone access and internet connectivity hinder wider adoption. The study reveals the App's potential in fostering participatory environmental governance but highlights the need for infrastructure development and institutional support to maximize its impact. The NITUNZE KILOMBERO application demonstrates potential as a scalable model for strengthening local environmental monitoring and evidence-based water resource management in river basin context. This research underscores the importance of technology-driven community engagement in promoting sustainable land and water resource management in the Kilombero Basin.
Recommended Citation
Chanzi, G., & Munishi, S. (2026). Enhancing Community Engagement through ‘NITUNZE KILOMBERO’ Mobile App: Case of Climate Land Use and Cover Management for Kilombero Basin. Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET), 45(1), 163-172. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.65085/2619-8789.1280
Publisher Name
University of Dar es Salaam
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Databases and Information Systems Commons, Dynamic Systems Commons, Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons, Risk Analysis Commons, Systems and Communications Commons