An Engaging Tabletop Simulation Highlighting Climate Resilience and Social Protection in Tanzania

Uwezeshaji Kaya Kuhimili (Enabling Households to Withstand) is a tabletop game designed to simulate the impact of Tanzania’s Productive Social Safety Net Program (PSSN), a welfare initiative led by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) and funded by the World Bank. The game provides an interactive way for stakeholders and participants to engage with the program's social protection measures, connecting complex policy objectives to real-world applications.

Project Significance

Commissioned by the World Bank, Uwezeshaji Kaya Kuhimili was developed by an international, interdisciplinary team that included social scientists, climate experts, and humanitarian workers. I contributed as part of this team, working closely with a climate scientist to ensure the game accurately represented climate-related risks. During the playtesting phase, feedback from World Bank economists highlighted a key design challenge: balancing their preference for mathematical complexity with the reality that many end-users, such as rural farmers, had limited numeracy skills. This highlighted the importance of designing for accessibility without sacrificing educational value.

Initially created for TASAF management staff to enhance their understanding of the PSSN program, the game’s positive reception led to its adaptation for rural communities. By playing the game, participants gained practical insights into how the program's social protection measures could support them in managing climate-related risks. The project underscored the potential of using games as innovative tools for education and engagement within development programs.

Recognition and Reception

The game was well-received, earning our team a World Bank KnowLympics Innovation Award. Later, Lien Tran, a member of the game design team, led pilot sessions in several Tanzanian villages, where the game was met with enthusiasm. These field sessions demonstrated the game’s effectiveness as an educational tool and sparked hope for a broader rollout in the future.

Legacy and Future Potential

Uwezeshaji Kaya Kuhimili has been cited in reports by the Climate & Development Knowledge Network and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future at Boston University, emphasizing its role in using participatory learning to engage communities and empower decision-makers. The project exemplifies how interactive experiences can translate complex social and environmental policies into accessible, relatable lessons.

Thematic Connections

Humans vs. Mosquitoes

This project shares Humans vs. Mosquitoes’s aim of engaging communities to learn about socio-economic and environmental challenges through interactive play. My contributions to both projects included working with interdisciplinary teams to design educational tools that resonate with diverse audiences. Outcomes included positive feedback from field pilots, emphasizing their potential for broader impact.

IQUEST

I co-developed IQUEST to support water management through crowdsourced data, connecting with TASAF’s use of game-based learning to educate rural communities. My work on user-centered design and data interaction in both projects highlights my expertise in creating tools that support informed decision-making.

Personal Exposure Reporter

The focus on public health and community education in the Personal Exposure Reporter relates to TASAF’s objective of informing communities about managing climate-related risks. Both projects demonstrate my ability to design interactive experiences that empower users to take proactive steps for their well-being.