Human capital development is among the core functions of human resource management discipline. It is also an important aspect in business organisations as it enables them to improve their productivity, competitiveness, long term survival and sustainability. This paper explores the state of human capital development in public institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specifically the paper examines the existence of employees development plans in public institutions and their implementation. The study was carried out in four public institutions using a sample of 95 respondents of which 90 were non-administrative employees and 5 were administrative officials. Data from non-administrative employees were collected through structured questionnaires and focus group discussion. For administrative officials, interviews were held. Data from interviews and focus group discussion were analysed qualitatively through content analysis while the data from questionnaires were descriptively analysed whereby frequencies and percentages were computed. The study revealed that only 38% of employees agreed that the nature of staff development plans in their institutions helped them to advance their education and that only 27% of staff agreed that staff development plans in their institutions are being well implemented. In conclusion findings of the study indicate that human capital development plans are not well implemented in many public institutions due to different factors such as financial constraints. Therefore public institutions are expected to improve their human capital development plans so as to have competent employees who can increase productivity, competitivenes and sustainabiliy of institutions.