The Mpiji Mlingwa project was constructed in partnership with WAT-Human Settlements Trust on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. It has provided secure housing and community spaces, constructing core houses that were fully serviced with electricity, household water and sanitation. The house design allows the homeowners to improve and extend their houses over time. The site layout was planned to maximise natural ventilation and provides an allocated space for small-scale food production. Water is supplied through boreholes and sanitation services through use of bio-gas plants and shared septic tanks.

Located in a peri urban area, the project has good access to transport, schools and shopping. The majority of the clients are self-employed business owners with monthly income ranges from $215 to $285 USD. Prior to the project they resided in rental accommodation characterised by overcrowding and poor services. To access housing finance, which is traditionally unavailable to those on low incomes, the clients were offered loans as part of WAT’s Micro-financing and Housing Support Services. These provided the new homeowners with the ability to purchase their new homes and fund further housing construction.