The Complete Guide to Project Management in Tanzania 2024

• David Njoroge
• 24 Aug, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 6 Mins Read

The dynamic nature of work calls for business owners to up their game often. Across the globe, project-based work is the in thing now. A business owner can endeavor to do a project with the purpose of producing a unique deliverable. In addition, projects play a crucial role in an organization’s corporate strategy.

Commercial entities in Tanzania recognize the indisputable role of project managers. It is the same case with organizations which are not commercially motivated. Tanzania, which is the largest country in East Africa by size, is seeing an uptick in urbanization. Consequently, the country needs people who are proficient in project management.

Project Management Course in Tanzania

The pathway to work as a project manager in Tanzania starts with enrolling in a course and earning a certification in project management. A number of institutions of higher learning that are accredited by the government of Tanzania enroll students for a project management course. Another option is earning a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification which leads to a job in that field.

How to Earn a Project Management Degree in Tanzania

Taking a degree in project management in Tanzania is possible. At the moment, there are two universities that teach this undergraduate programme. The University of Dodoma (UDOM) is a public university which offers a Bachelor of Arts in Project Planning, Management and Community Development. While, Mwenge Catholic University (MWECAU) is a private university which offers a Bachelor of Arts in Project Planning and Management.

Admission Requirements

Here is what is needed during application for a bachelor’s in project management in Tanzania:

• Pass the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) with at least three credits in the following subjects Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, History, Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Commerce.
• Pass the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) with at least three credits in the following subjects Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, History, Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Commerce.
• OR a Diploma in a relevant field from a recognized institution.

Course Duration and Structure

The Bachelor of Project Management programme in Tanzania takes three years for full time students. But it can take longer for part-time students. With a view to cater to needs of different students, these universities have a flexible schedule.

Here are the common courses in a project management degree in Tanzania:

1. Introduction to Project Management
2. Quality Management
3. Risk Management
4. Cost Management
5. Human Resource Management
6. Scope Management
7. Stakeholder Management
8. Resource Management
9. Planning, scheduling and controlling
10. Monitoring and evaluation

Course Fees in Tanzania

Tuition fees for a bachelor of project management in Tanzania per academic year is between 900,000 Tanzanian Shillings and 1 million Tanzanian Shillings. This fee covers the cost of registration, tuition and examinations. Additional costs are meant for students to access university resources like library and internet.

Project Management Short Course in Tanzania

There are universities and colleges in Tanzania which teach project management in form of a short course. The course takes either a few weeks or a few months. Students are able to fill gaps in their professional knowledge without much hassle. Tuition fees for a short course is between 700,000 Tanzanian Shillings and 800,000 Tanzanian Shillings.

Here are universities in Tanzania offering a short course in project management:

1. University of Dar es Salaam
2. Sokoine University of Agriculture
3. Mzumbe University
4. Moshi Co-operative University

Which is the Highest Level of Education in Project Management in Tanzania?

A master’s degree in project management is easily accessible in Tanzania. This kind of degree helps students specialize in a field of study within project management. There are a few universities in the country that offer this type of graduate degree.

Which Certification is Best for Project Management in Tanzania?

It is common for some employers to prefer to hire project managers who hold PMI certifications. This is because PMI is the primary organization offering professional certificates in project management. Many project managers pursue either a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification or a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or even both.

How to Become a Certified Project Manager in Tanzania

PMI has a branch in Tanzania called PMI Tanzania chapter. Therefore, an aspiring project manager in Tanzania is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI Tanzania. It’s the most widely recognized certification in the world.

Here is what it takes to qualify for a PMP certification in Tanzania:

• For those who have completed secondary school (high school) education, need to put in 60 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training or have CAPM certification
• For those who have completed a four-year degree, need to put in 36 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training or have CAPM certification
• Prepare for the PMP exam by studying. The cost of the classes depends on the institution and the format. A student can be trained either in person or online. There are several authorized training centers alongside accredited institutions in Tanzania that offer PMP certification classes.
• Clearly, with a CAPM certification, a student does not need to fulfil the 35-hour education requirement.
• The next step is paying the PMP exam fee. For a PMI member, it costs US405 Dollars (about 1 million Tanzanian Shillings) while for a non-PMI member it costs US555 Dollars (about 4 million Tanzanian Shillings).
• After paying, a student can schedule their exam. The exam can be taken online or at a testing center in Tanzania accredited by Pearson Vue. In case a student fails, they can retake the exam up to three times in one year.
• A student who passes the exam becomes PMP certified. A certified project manager in Tanzania must keep their certification active by completing certain stages of continuing education.

Project Management Careers in Tanzania

Project manager is included in the jobs proceeding from studying project management in Tanzania. Given the fact that they take charge of a specific project, they can be found in every type of organization. Regardless of the industry, their aim is to achieve a feat by creating a special product or service. The sectors where project managers work include:

• Construction and real estate
• Engineering
• Information Technology (IT)
• Manufacturing
• Hospitality
• Transportation and logistics
• Financial services
• Advertising and marketing
• Retail
• Non-profit

Project Manager Salary in Tanzania

Project managers in Tanzania earn an estimated salary that ranges from 30 million Tanzanian Shillings to 50 million Tanzanian Shillings a year. Besides, the salary will be different based on level of experience from entry level to mid-level to senior level. The other factor that determines a project manager’s salary is the size of the project and the industry.

Assistant Project Manager Salary in Tanzania

Assistant project managers in Tanzania earn an estimated salary that ranges from 20 million Tanzanian Shillings to 30 million Tanzanian Shillings. Since they help the project manager in running a project, their salary is less than their immediate supervisor. Project size, nature of the industry and level of experience are also considered in setting their pay.

Job Outlook for Project Managers in Tanzania

There is a higher demand for project managers in Tanzania than in past years. Businesses in the country are embarking on projects aggressively. On account of this, they need professionals to be in control of these projects. Organizations in Tanzania are taking up project management practices so as to remain operational.