Just City Platform (JCP) in Tanzania

Dr. Limbumba is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Human Settlements Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam. She holds a PhD in Built Environment Analysis and specializes in housing, informality, climate change, and urban poverty. Dr. Limbumba has provided consultancy services to government and non-governmental institutions, including the preparation of the National Housing Policy 2021 and the Tenant Study for the National Housing Corporation. She has also participated in research activities both locally and regionally on gender and housing, urban service delivery, and climate change, and has published papers on these topics. She teaches housing development and practice; gender, climate change, and housing; and leadership, governance, and public policy at the postgraduate level.

Gaston Kikuwi is an accomplished teacher, economist, and the chairman of the VIBINDO Society. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the Open University of Tanzania and a Diploma in Business Management. With extensive experience in lobbying and advocacy, he focuses on shaping policies, acts, regulations, and permits to foster a more conducive business environment in Tanzania. For over two decades, Gaston has served as a member of the Tanzania National Business Council. He is also a board member of the Tanzania Association of Employers and an active participant in the Business Environment Working Group. His dedication is to transforming and empowering Tanzania's informal sector and informal settlements, striving to create sustainable and inclusive development across the nation.

Magdalena is a motivated, experienced professional dedicated to creating sustainable, holistic change in individuals, organizations, and society. With a track record in managing non-profit programs, staff development, negotiations, and strategic policy implementation, she increases organizational impact. She works well under pressure, is analytical, emotionally intelligent, and eager to learn. A strong believer in asset-based community development, she is an evidence-based team builder, respectful of individual differences, open to discussion, and committed to inclusion. Holding a Master’s in Development Policy from the University of Bradford and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Magdalena has 19 years of experience in project planning, management, and executive roles, including managing diverse issues related to policies, grants, donor contracts, MEAL, and strategic partnerships.

Albert Nyiti is a registered town planner with over ten years of experience. He is an Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of Human Settlements Studies (IHSS) at Ardhi University in Tanzania, where he obtained his MSc. and BSc. in Housing and Infrastructure Planning. Currently, he is a PhD researcher at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, focusing on the self-building housing experiences of the urban poor in Dar es Salaam. Additionally, Albert is a Queen Elizabeth Scholar and an adjunct faculty member at the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada. His passion for contributing to urban theory scholarship has made him part of initiatives such as the Dar es Salaam CityLab, the Just City Platform (JCP) in Tanzania, and UTA-Do (Urban Theory Africa - ‘Doing’).

Emmanuel is a passionate housing researcher with expertise in the Tanzanian housing market and the wider African urban landscape. Holding an MSc in Real Estate and a BSc in Land Management and Valuation from Ardhi University, he blends academic research with practical, on-the-ground experience. As the head of HousingLAB, a youth-led initiative, Emmanuel provides strategic guidance on a wide range of projects, from individuals to institutions, to develop context-specific housing solutions in Tanzania. His work also focuses on student and youth access to housing products. His extensive experience spans several countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Canada. Emmanuel is a Queen Elizabeth Scholar (QEScholar), an alumnus of the Network of Excellence in Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) where he represented the Eastern African Node, and a proud member of the Just City Platform in Tanzania. He is also a member of the Ardhi University Convocation on publication.

Mariam is an economist and an Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of Human Settlements Studies (IHSS), Ardhi University. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis and Programme Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her research areas of interest includes urban economics, local economic development, and public policy analysis. Over the past seven years, Mariam has been involved in multidisciplinary research projects in Dar es Salaam, addressing topics such as urban (in)equality, livelihoods, inclusive urbanization, resilient cities, and rural-urban transformations.

Queen is an experienced Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Gender Specialist, and Researcher with over ten years in construction. She is the Founder and Executive Director of GCO, Managing Director at Touch & Finish Co. Ltd., and an Assistant Lecturer at Ardhi University. She serves as Secretary of the Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors Women’s Chapter (TIQS). Queen holds a BSc in Building Economics, an MSc in Construction Economics and Management from Ardhi University, and an MA in Gender Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam. She is a MEXT Scholar pursuing a PhD in Architectural Engineering Systems and Management at Kyoto University, focusing on inclusive construction systems in Japan, South Korea, and China. Queen has contributed to national projects like the BRT and Tanzanite Bridge. Her interests include construction economics, gender justice, sustainable practices, diversity, and inclusion in the built environment. She advocates for women’s voices, sustainability, and inclusive cities.