Implications and Possible Remedies of Child Streetism on Urban Goverance: A Case Study of Dodoma City, Tanzania

Abstract

Ensuring that cities are more sustainable, inclusive, and livable is a fundamental principle of urban governance. This is an internationally reorganized principle as provided for under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precisely, SDG 11 calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Unfortunately, actualizing this principle in most cities of developing countries is becoming more of a myth than a reality. A situation that is attributed to various challenges, including child streetism. Tanzanian cities like those of developing countries are among those cities struggling with overcoming this challenge. Due to the escalating nature of the challenge, it has become a growing concern which needs pro-active measures to be undertaken. This study therefore sought to explore this subject matter with specific focus on exploring the implication of child streetism on urban governance within Dodoma City in Tanzania. Methodically, Descriptive survey research design was chosen for the present study. The design was selected because it is appropriate to explore facts as they are, without over exaggeration and/or simplification. In addition, the design allows to gather data from a large number of participants with a short period of time. Besides this, to find out the essential information, both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed. Data was collected through key informant interviews and semi-structured interviews.  A total of 150 Urban Dodoma dwellers and 7 key informants were involved in the study. Findings of the study revealed that child streetism possesses significant implications to effective urban governance within the City. Precisely, study participants identified implications such as increase in crime wave, increase in security concern, and increase in environmental management challenge as well as increase in child prostitution among others as major implications of child streetism on urban governance in Dodoma city. Based on the study finds, possible identified policy remedies that ought to be taken on board include strengthening social welfare systems, strengthen child protection systems, community engagement and fostering public-private partnerships.