DARAJA Climate Services Consultancy (DCSC) is a Tanzania-based climate services and early warning consultancy established to operationalize and scale the DARAJA Climate Adaptation Initiative, originally initiated by the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI).
The DARAJA initiative was created to bridge the gap between national weather and climate information providers, particularly the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), and end users in communities, especially residents of informal settlements and climate-vulnerable groups. Through a co-production model, DARAJA ensures that weather and climate information is timely, localized, actionable, and responsive to real community needs.
During its first phase, the DARAJA project demonstrated strong impact by improving access to early warning information, strengthening trust between communities and service providers, and enabling communities to take proactive actions against climate-related risks. Building on this success, DCSC was developed as a sustainable business and service delivery vehicle to scale and institutionalize these solutions.
Our History
DARAJA is an acronym for Developing Risks Awareness through Joint Action. It began as a project funded by the UK Government through WISER and was pioneered in 2018 by the UK-based NGO, Resurgence. The project initially focused on informal settlements in Dar es Salaam and was implemented in partnership with the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI), Resurgence, local media, schools, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), local government, and community groups under the Tanzania Federation for the Urban Poor (TFUP).
DARAJA strengthened community resilience by providing over 980,000 people with improved access to actionable weather forecasts, delivered both directly and indirectly via SMS, community meetings, and mobilization campaigns. By enabling local communities to take timely action, DARAJA helped save lives, homes, and property from floods and extreme heat.
The project also prioritized capacity building. Over 25 journalists across electronic, social, and print media were trained. Eight schools in Temeke, Kinondoni, and Dar es Salaam City Council were reached, benefiting 30 teachers, 300 students directly, and 13,711 students indirectly through TMA-led training. As a result, accessibility of weather information increased from 74% to 93%, understanding from 72% to 91%, and actual use from 72% to 93%.
Between 2022 and 2025, the UNDP supported the upscaling of DARAJA through ISGAP funding, enabling CCI and TFUP to reach more vulnerable communities and perform cost-benefit analyses on the use of weather updates for property protection. This added value attracted further support from GIZ through IKI Small Grants.
DARAJA also contributed to TMA producing special zoned, downscaled forecasts for Dar es Salaam, expanding community engagement, and supporting disaster committees and local communities in preparedness and response to extreme weather events.
After nearly seven years of supporting urban vulnerable communities, primarily those most affected by weather hazards, DARAJA has been expanded to serve a broader audience, including farmers, fishermen, businesspeople, livestock keepers, tourists, and users of public and private transport.
To institutionalize and scale this work, CCI founded DARAJA Climate Services Consultancy (DCSC) and registered it to integrate additional features, enabling the platform to reach a larger audience through digital channels. The focus now extends beyond weather to include critical information such as traffic updates, market prices, and agricultural and fisheries data, ensuring users benefit from timely, actionable insights that affect their daily lives.
Our Mission
To deliver inclusive, reliable, and actionable climate and early warning services that strengthen resilience, protect livelihoods, and support sustainable development for communities, businesses, and institutions.
Our Vision
A climate-resilient Tanzania where communities, enterprises, and decision makers use climate information to reduce risks, improve productivity, and unlock economic opportunities.
Scaling the DARAJA Early Warning System
With expanded funding and partnerships, DCSC is scaling the DARAJA Early Warning System to serve multiple sectors of the Tanzanian economy. Our approach focuses on:
- Community centered design and engagement
- Sector specific climate insights for
- Farmers and livestock keepers
- Poultry producers
- Fishermen and coastal users
- Transport operators and commuters
- Tourism and hospitality businesses
- Traders, small enterprises, and urban communities
- Sustainable business models, including subscriptions, partnerships, and advertising
- Strengthening institutional capacity and infrastructure in collaboration with TMA
These efforts help reduce climate-related losses, protect economic activities, and promote a culture of proactive climate resilience across society.
DARAJA Digital Platform & Mobile App
The DARAJA App is a multi-purpose climate and information platform designed for individuals, communities, and businesses. It allows users to:
- Access localized weather forecasts and early warning alerts
- Understand climate risks affecting homes, businesses, farms, transport, and tourism
- View traffic congestion information
- Buy and sell goods and services through the marketplace
- Promote products and reach new customers
By combining risk reduction with economic opportunity, the platform makes climate information both practical and financially valuable for everyday users.
Our Consultancy Services
1. Climate Data & Risk Assessment
- Climate data collection, analysis, and interpretation (temperature, rainfall, humidity, sea-level rise, Hotspot Analysis etc.)
- Downscaled climate projections tailored to specific regions and sectors
- Climate hazard mapping (floods, droughts, heat waves)
- Vulnerability and exposure assessments for people, infrastructure, and ecosystems
2. Decision-Support Tools
- Design of decision-support systems (DSS) and dashboards
- Interactive climate information platforms for planners and stakeholders
- Integration of climate data with socioeconomic indicators
3. Climate Adaptation Planning
- Development of climate adaptation strategies and action plans in collaboration with stakeholders and communities.
- Prioritization of adaptation interventions at community and city levels
- Alignment with national and international frameworks (NDCs, NAPs)
4. Training & Capacity Building
- Training programs for:
- Government institutions
- Local communities
- Schools and youth groups
- Private sector teams
- Key topics include:
- Climate data interpretation
- Disaster risk reduction
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Heat and flood risk reduction
- Community Based Adaptations
5. Stakeholder Engagement & Participatory Processes
- Community consultations and participatory planning
- Climate vulnerability participatory mapping
- Inclusive decision-making through focus groups and surveys
6. Policy, Institutional & Regulatory Support
- Advisory support on climate policy formulation
- Alignment of local, regional, and national climate strategies
- Mainstreaming climate considerations into sectors such as health, urban planning, water, and agriculture
7. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Design of performance indicators for climate projects
- Post-implementation evaluations
- Learning and adaptive management based on outcomes and community feedback
8. Project Development & Fund Mobilization
- Proposal writing for climate finance mechanisms Feasibility studies and economic analyses
- Support in accessing national and international climate funding
- Implementation of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation actions, such as tree planting and Nature-Based Solutions.
9. Research & Publications
- Applied research on climate impacts, adaptation effectiveness, and social vulnerability
- Production of technical reports, policy briefs, and academic publications