At the recent International Girls in ICT Day celebration in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, emphasized the government’s dedication to equipping its citizens — especially women and youth — with vital digital skills. This initiative aims to foster economic inclusion, create employment opportunities, and promote technological innovation across the country.
Minister Silaa highlighted the importance of digital literacy, particularly among young girls, as a transformative tool to break free from economic limitations and enable participation in the digital economy. In 2023, Tanzania launched a digital skills centre in partnership with the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). These collaborations aim to build local expertise and support innovation. The government is urging telecom operators to extend network coverage to ensure broader internet access, aiming to bridge the digital divide and connect more Tanzanians to the digital world.
These initiatives are part of a comprehensive strategy to develop an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem. According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), over 49.3 million citizens are internet users, with more than 90.4 million active SIM cards nationwide — highlighting substantial digital engagement.
By investing in digital education and infrastructure, Tanzania aims to empower its youth and women, fostering a more inclusive economy and positioning itself as a digital leader in Africa. Such efforts not only drive innovation but also ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are accessible to all segments of society.
