The Department was established in 2005, Its offers programmes of Population and Development Planning and Community Development. We have long term programmes and short-term programmes as follows:

In 2007, the Department of Development Finance and Management Studies (DFMS) was established within the legal framework of the Institute to provide training programmes. The Department was born out of the sheer need of the Institute to expand and reach out to many clients with its noble goal of contributing to the implementation of national development plans for the social and economic development of Tanzania and other developing countries. In 2008, the Department started offering its first long-term programmes:  Bachelor's Degree in Development Finance and Investment Planning (BDFIP)—the first batch of students for the named programme graduated in November 2011.

The Department of Rural Development and Regional Planning (DRDRP) at the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) is the largest and oldest department, offering a variety of training programs across different academic levels. the department enrolls approximately 2,600 students annually in certificate, diploma, bachelor, postgraduate, and master's degree programs. Its interdisciplinary staff, including professors, Ph.D. holders, master's degree holders, and tutorial assistants, emphasizes practical-oriented education through competence-based training (CBET), integrating theoretical knowledge with project works, field experiences, and planning studios. Research and consultancy services provided by the departmental academic staff cover a wide range of areas, including Regional development and rural-urban relationships, aiming to address challenges in rural development, regional planning, and local economic development to enhance the well-being of communities at the grassroots level and contribute to national prosperity.

The core functions of the department are Training, Research, and Consultancy services in the scope of Environmental Planning and Management; Urban Development and Environmental Management; Urban and Regional Planning; Geomatics; Environmental Health and Sanitation Management. The Department is the center of practical expertise endowed with qualified, experienced and committed Academic and supporting staff to offer quality services both short and long training programmes from Certificates, Diploma, Higher diploma, Bachelor and Masters Degrees.