DAR ES SALAAM, June 6 -- OVER the years, Tanzania has experienced a remarkable urban transformation, with bustling cities such as Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya and Tanga emerging as magnets for opportunity and ambition.

Drawn by the promise of jobs, quality education and better livelihoods, thousands of people stream into the urban centres every year, fuelling economic dynamism and reshaping the nations landscape. Yet beneath this vibrant growth story lies a mounting environmental challenge.

As cities expand at an unprecedented pace, mountains of solid waste continue to rise while precious spaces once used for urban agriculture steadily disappear, placing increasing pressure on urban ecosystems, food security and the sust...