“Designing With, Not For”
The Tanzania Research Project is a community-driven collaboration between SMU students, the nonprofit Kijiji Innovative Sustainable Solutions (Kijiji ISS), and residents of Kasisa, Tanzania. Together, we focus on co-designing sustainable, affordable technologies that respond to locally identified needs while supporting Kijiji’s mission to advance sustainable rural development. Through hands-on fieldwork, participatory design, and long-term partnerships, the project fosters mutual learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and innovative solutions grounded in local knowledge and community priorities.
About the Project
The Tanzania Research Project began in 2022 in partnership with Kijiji Innovative Sustainable Solutions (Kijiji ISS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a center for sustainable rural development. Through this collaboration, the SMU–Tanzania project works alongside Kijiji to develop a co-design, participatory methodology that engages both students and community members in the design process. The Zarazaga Lab is also advancing new approaches to co-design and collaborative learning within this development framework.
The initiative began with a community needs assessment conducted by SMU faculty and students in Kasisa, a rural village in northern Tanzania. What started as a short exploratory visit quickly evolved into a multi-year collaboration grounded in mutual trust, shared problem-solving, and the belief that engineering can serve as a catalyst for social change. Over successive visits, SMU students have worked side-by-side with local residents to identify priority challenges, prototype solutions, and refine technologies that are affordable, durable, and adapted to local contexts.
Today, the Tanzania Project includes seven community-based engineering initiatives, ranging from water filtration and sustainable construction to sanitation and education. Each project is rooted in deep community engagement, iterative design, and long-term partnerships with local collaborators. The work continues to expand in both scope and impact as new students, technologies, and ideas are introduced each year.
Goals
The Tanzania Project is guided by a set of core principles that shape both its process and outcomes. Our research focuses not only on the technologies we develop but also on the methods and collaborative approaches that make them possible.
Community Co-Design: Solutions are developed in direct partnership with the Kasisa community, ensuring that local voices, skills, and priorities guide every stage of the design process.
Affordability: Technologies are created with cost constraints in mind, relying on locally available materials and labor whenever possible.
Sustainability: Each project emphasizes long-term viability—environmentally, economically, and socially—so that solutions continue to benefit the community well into the future.
Iterative Learning: Students and community members work through cycles of prototyping, testing, and refining, adapting designs to meet evolving needs and real-world challenges.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration: The project builds meaningful connections between SMU students and Tanzanian partners, fostering mutual respect, active listening, and shared problem-solving.
Ongoing Projects in Tanzania
- Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) & Construction – Sustainable building with locally made earth blocks.
- Water Filtration & Pump Systems – Clean water solutions for homes and the community.
- Roof Tiles & Building Materials – Affordable, durable roofing from agricultural byproducts.
- Sanitation & Toilets – Low-cost, community-adapted composting toilets.
- RTK/GIS Mapping & Data Collection – Precision mapping for land use and planning.
- Shade Structures & Site Planning – Designing spaces for comfort and functionality.
- Education & Community Learning – Digital tools and workshops for local students and teachers.
Partners & Collaborators
The success of the Tanzania Project depends on a diverse network of collaborators who bring technical expertise, local knowledge, and logistical support.
- Kajiji ISS
- Kasisa Community Members
- SMU Lyle School of Engineering
- SMU Simmons School of Education
- UNT, School of Education
- Institute for Building Research (IBR), Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam
- Tanzanian Field Coordinators & Translators
- Mbeya University of Science and Technology
- Student Cohorts from SMU
- Tanzanian Association for Women in Architecture for Humanity