Mwishwa, Yazidi H. B.2025-03-212025-03-212021-12-010856 – 0196https://repository.must.ac.tz/handle/123456789/298This Journal Article of Architecture and Construction Technology was Published by Journal of the Institution of Engineers TanzaniaConstruction industry in Tanzania is plagued with poor project performance. The industry through the projects’ undertaking is continuing recording time overruns, cost overruns as well as dissatisfaction of the work quality. This problem is caused mainly by the incapability of the parties involved in the project pursuit. In last three decades, local firms were taking-up a project share by value ranged from 10% - 20% in 1998 against their foreign counterparts. Recently, this has improved to an average of 36.6% in 2017. Since the Joint Venture (JV) performance initiative is evidenced to yield positive results elsewhere (i.e. it has helped firms build their capabilities), but, this has not yet been sufficiently utilized in the Tanzanian context. This study investigates JV practices by the local firms, on the: awareness to the terminology, elements, motivation and obstacles of deploying it. Critical review work on JV was conducted; also questionnaire survey and interview were conducted in three regions in the country (covering Mbeya, Dar es Salaam and Geita) to solicit local firms’ JV performance issues. A response of fourteen firms (47%) was obtained and used. In results, the studied firms showed high level of awareness with the JV and its potentials as the majority of them (86%) agreed that it contributes to project performance and the firm’s growth. Respondents (82%) also showed they understand JV obstacles (factors) that hinder its implementation. In addition, respondents (84%) agreed on/understanding the factors that motivate firms to undertake JV. The factors that hinder JV project include: fearing involvements of new individuals to a JV firm, and difficulty to measure JV project, amongst others. Since the firms had shown high level of awareness with regard to JV facets, but some practiced it partially, and other did not deploy it; a framework was developed as guidance. It has five elements, firm: define its role/capability; prepare its readiness to conduct JV; assess JV facets; implement JV and continue measuring results and improve. Local firms are urged to use the proposed framework and benefit. In future studies, a framework should be validated and results measured for improvement. This study has implication to the local firms in Tanzania and to other firms in developing countries.enArticle