Organisational Capacity for Implementing Disaster Management Plan for Records in Singida Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper assessed the organisational capacity to implement the Disaster Management Plan (DMP) for records in Singida Municipality (SM), Tanzania. The study was guided by the Disaster Management Cycle Model and employed a pragmatist paradigm using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. A sample of 90 respondents was drawn from a population of 145 staff through systematic and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, observation and document review. Data were analysed using SPSS for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The findings revealed that storage facilities were inadequate and mostly in poor condition, exposing records to potential damage. Security measures were also limited, with fire extinguishers being the most common, while important systems such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, and CCTV cameras were largely absent. The study further found that financial, human, and physical resources for implementing DMP were insufficient. Major challenges affecting implementation included financial constraints, inadequate records management infrastructure, limited awareness of disaster preparedness, and inadequate management support. The study concludes that SM has limited organisational capacity to implement the DMP effectively. The study recommends increased budget allocation, improvements to record storage facilities, the installation of adequate security measures, and the provision of training and awareness programmes to enhance the effective implementation of the DMP.