Informal settlements constitute the largest means of habitation in the urbanizing world especially in the developing countries. In Dar es Salaam, informal settlements serve over 75% of the population. Among the often-mentioned characteristics of informal settlements include the dominance of informal economic activities. In particular, spaces for trading activities are observed to be randomly distributed in the informal settlements as they serve for the everyday life of its dwellers.However, little had been studied and analysed on the role of trading in shaping socio-spatial character of informal settlements. The aforesaid called for the need to investigate the underlying trading processes and products that characterise the setting of informal settlements. Using Mlalakuwa settlement in Dar es Salaam as a case, this paper maps and analyzes the social and institutional context of trading facilities and the resulting spatial character of informal settlements. One of the key findings in this paper is that trading activities along the main roads transform most of the bounding residential houses into trading facilities. The nature and character of trading facilities appear to define the spatial character of informal settlements in the context of the coexistence of formal and informal systems.

The study intended to assess the motivation and challenges facing employers in recruitment of professional women in building construction companies; by analyzing motivation; examining the challenges encountered; and proposing the possible measures to overcome challenges facing employers in recruiting professional women in building construction companies, in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. This descriptive designed survey study, engaged large size contractors as a unit of analysis, with building contractors from Class I and II, within Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania, as a study population and a sample. Moreover, the study involved non-probability sampling; specifically, judgmental sampling, which was used in determining the number of registered building construction firms in Dar-Es-Salaam particularly from Class I and II. Literature review; open and closed ended questionnaires administered to employers and human resources managers in building construction companies in Dar-Es-Salaam, were used in collecting primary and secondary qualitative and quantitative data. In collecting data, total of 56 questionnaire were distributed, whereby only 41 (73%) were returned. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed the need to address gender balance; non-discriminatory policy; improved staff retention (you can keep your employees, boost their morale); a better reflection to the customers or clients; encourage organization to change from gender stereotype; different perspective (benefits from different points of view and approaches); enhance collaboration (improve team processed and group collaboration); the perception of women being more multitasked than men, and the need to explore a wide talent pool; women are professionally ethical, committed to their work, and less corrupt, with better listening and soft skills; improve reputation (no gender biasness to your company); and women are loyal, practical innovative, and patience, as the most prevalent motivations that; pushes employers to recruit professional women in building construction companies. Furthermore, the critical challenges revealed were; work-life balance, private life demands, emotions, and non-family friendly working hours; lack of good recruitment practises, procedures and selection plans; lack of good staff development plan; lack of gender policy; lack of confidence and low number of female applicants in the building construction industry; and lack of proper motivation and mentorship policy. The study concluded that; more attention must be made on recruiting more women in building construction industry as a part of the gender equality, in order to increase their participation number in the construction industry, against male, alongside addressing all the challenges and motivation factors revealed in the study. Lastly, the study recommended; incentives (such as training and mentoring); support and encouragement of women participation in construction; enhancement of l...

Wants and needs change overtime as people age. At old age, options are reduced and elderly are going through a lot of changes in this stage of their life and tend to suffer from depression and feeling of isolation. Most elderly people feel detached with their communities but only wish to be part of it. Putting them in an environment that feels like an institution would aggravate their depression and may lead to other problems. The purpose of this study was to explore architectural approaches in creation of age-friendly supportive environment so as to maintain them in their communities. The research used case study method in the area of Mwananyamala settlement and Msimbazi elderly centre. It was found that caring of elderly people is mainly understood in terms of responsibilities of families and the community. That it is difficult to separate elderly care without including families and communities. Also, preferential core spaces needed by elderly are those that incorporate them in communities and not those that separate them with their communities. It was concluded that elders should be allowed to interact with everyone in the community and consideration of their spaces is essential.

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