Can Tanzania’s Technology Policy Leverage the Global Tech Shift?

The global technology shift, powered by innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, smart agriculture, data analytics, and digital services, presents a transformative opportunity for low- and middle-income countries. For Tanzania, a nation with a rapidly expanding youth population and growing digital infrastructure, the question is not just whether it can join this shift, but how its current ICT policy framework enables or constrains that potential. Through analyzing Tanzania’s National ICT Policy and comparing it with Rwanda’s proactive digital governance, we can assess strengths, gaps, and a forward-looking roadmap.

Tanzania’s Current ICT Policy Landscape

Policy Framework

Tanzania’s National ICT Policy of 2016 defines broad goals in infrastructure, human capital, universal access, legal frameworks, and local content.

More recently, a draft of the National ICT Policy 2023 has been introduced to update and accelerate digital transformation.

In education, the Education & Training Policy (2023 version) emphasizes integrating ICT into curricula, promoting science and technology, and boosting online/distance learning.

Achievements and Shortcomings

Infrastructure and Access: Tanzania has made progress: broadband and mobile networks have expanded, and there is a place for policy-driven growth. The 2016 policy acknowledges the need to accelerate broadband penetration.

Human Capital: There’s recognition of the need for science, technology, and innovation (STI) skills in schools.

Regulation and Legal Gaps: While the 2016 policy includes regulatory goals, challenges remain. For instance, e-government platforms in Tanzania still suffer usability, accessibility, and web security problems, per academic analysis.

Data Protection: Tanzania has started to address data protection: a Personal Data Protection Commission has been inaugurated, following the Personal Data Protection Act. (Note: publicly known concerns remain about effective enforcement.)

Policy Readiness vs. Global Shift

Strengths: The policy recognizes ICT as a driver of socio-economic development, aims for universal access, and supports local content creation all essential for engaging in the global tech shift.

Limitations: However, the implementation gap is substantial: weak digital governance, security vulnerabilities, limited data infrastructure, and slow adoption of emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT) undermine Tanzania’s capacity to fully benefit from global tech trends.

Lessons from Rwanda: What Tanzania Can Learn

Rwanda offers a compelling “policy playbook” for how a small country can leverage technology for inclusive growth. Some of its strategies are directly relevant to Tanzania:

Proactive Strategic Policy

Rwanda has a National AI Policy, which explicitly outlines how to build AI capacity, support research, guarantee data governance, and promote responsible usage.

It also has a National Cybersecurity Strategy (2024–2029) to protect its digital infrastructure as digital adoption increases.

Lesson for Tanzania: adopting similarly articulated policies would help. A dedicated AI policy (or “emerging tech” policy) combined with a cybersecurity strategy would provide clarity, direction, and risk mitigation.

Institutional Innovation Structures

Rwanda’s Technology Innovation Division (under RISA) is tasked with driving R&D, innovation, and adoption of new technologies across sectors.

Through the Digital Transformation Centre, Rwanda fosters public–private collaboration, prototyping of digital solutions, and capacity building.

Lesson: Tanzania could strengthen or create a dedicated innovation body (or empower existing ones) to incubate emerging technologies, test pilot projects, and scale them in partnership with the private sector.

Data Governance & Local Data Ownership

Rwanda's data policy emphasizes data sovereignty, hosting national data locally, while still engaging with global partners.

This approach ensures control, security, and trust, while enabling cross-border collaboration.

Tanzania, with its new data protection authority, can build on this model by encouraging local data centers, secure data ecosystems, and ethical data governance.

Digital Skills & Talent Development

In Rwanda’s AI policy, there is a strong focus on upskilling: reskilling the workforce, creating AI education at university level, and building STEM capacity from primary education. ICTworks

For Tanzania: while its education policy acknowledges ICT, greater ambition and investment are needed scholarships, research programs, hackathons, and public–private partnerships to develop a high-tech talent pool.

Smart Infrastructure & Innovation Ecosystem

Rwanda’s Smart City Master Plan (under its Smart Rwanda strategy) integrates ICT into sectors like agriculture, health, and government to build a knowledge-based economy.

The Kigali Innovation City (KIC) is a flagship of this vision, a tech hub, innovation cluster, and centre for research and entrepreneurship.

Tanzania could replicate similar special economic zones, innovation districts, or smart city initiatives to attract local and foreign technology firms, startups, and universities.

Critical Risks If Tanzania Fails to Act

If Tanzania does not modernize and deepen its ICT policy in line with global tech trends, it risks:

• Digital exclusion: Without policies prioritizing last-mile access and data inclusion, many citizens (especially rural) will be left behind.
• Brain drain: Talented youth may migrate to more innovation-friendly countries if there are fewer opportunities to build skills or monetize ideas locally.
• Cyber insecurity: As digital adoption grows, so do cyber threats. Lack of a strong cybersecurity policy leaves national systems exposed.
• Missed economic opportunity: Without a deliberate push, Tanzania may fail to attract global tech investment or host regional innovation hubs ceding ground to more proactive neighbours.

Policy Recommendations for Tanzania (Roadmap)

Based on the analysis and lessons from Rwanda, here are recommended policy actions for Tanzania to better benefit from the global tech shift:

Adopt a National Emerging Technology (AI/IOT) Policy

Articulate a clear vision for AI, IoT, and blockchain in national development.

Define responsible, ethical standards, and set up a national body (or office) to drive adoption and regulation.

Develop a National Cybersecurity Strategy

Similar to Rwanda’s 2024–2029 plan, Tanzania needs its own strategy to secure infrastructure, build cyber-resilience, and foster trust.

Establish a cyber‑security academy or training centre to grow local expertise.

Strengthen Innovation Institutions

Empower or create a dedicated innovation division (or accelerate an existing one) to support Research and Development, pilots, and public–private innovation labs.

Fund a “Digital Transformation Centre” to prototype citizen-centred digital solutions and co-create with government, private sector, and civil society.

Promote Data Sovereignty and Local Data Infrastructure

Encourage the development of local data centres and cloud infrastructure.

Implement data governance frameworks: ensure data is stored securely in-country while facilitating responsible global collaboration.

Invest in Human Capital

Increase funding for digital education: integrate AI, data sciences, and IoT into primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

Provide scholarships, research grants, and partnerships with universities (local and global) for ICT talent development.

Promote training programs, hackathons, and innovation challenges to nurture tech entrepreneurs.

Create Innovation Zones and Smart Infrastructure

Develop innovation districts (similar to Kigali Innovation City) to host startups, research labs, and accelerated companies.

Launch smart city initiatives in Tanzanian cities (e.g., Dar es Salaam), integrating IoT for transport, energy, and governance.

Encourage Inclusive Digital Access

Implement policies to subsidize internet adoption for underserved populations.

Partner with the private sector and donors to expand broadband and mobile connectivity, especially in rural.

Monitor and Evaluate

Regularly assess the impact of ICT initiatives with data-driven evaluation.

Use feedback loops, pilots, and policy innovation labs to refine strategies dynamically.

Conclusion

Tanzania can benefit significantly from the global tech shift but its current ICT policy, while solid in foundation, lacks the depth and specificity needed to fully leverage emerging technologies. By borrowing lessons from Rwanda’s forward-thinking approach, especially in AI, cybersecurity, data governance, and innovation infrastructure, Tanzania can accelerate its digital transformation, foster inclusive growth, and become a regional tech hub. Without these reforms, the country risks lagging behind and missing opportunities to harness the full potential of the digital economy.