Tanzania has launched a specialised training programme for 110 ICT professionals from public and private institutions to strengthen skills in artificial intelligence, cyber security and personal data protection, with support from the European Union and technical expertise from Estonia, Germany and Finland. The initiative, opened in Dar es Salaam by Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of the Tanzania Information and Communication Technologies Commission (ICTC), aims to build the workforce capacity needed to protect critical systems and support the country's digital transformation under the National Development Vision 2050.
The training, reported by The Citizen on 29 July 2026, comes as Tanzania accelerates adoption of digital technologies across government and business. Dr Mwasaga said digital transformation exposes governments, businesses and citizens to increasingly sophisticated cyber risks, and that building digital trust — through protecting personal information, ensuring privacy and securing digital services — is fundamental to increasing public confidence. He noted that the 110 participants represent both public and private institutions because the digital economy concerns every Tanzanian.
The programme also addresses risks associated with the misuse of AI, methods for securing digital infrastructure and best practices in protecting personal information. Joseph Moshi, an ICT officer from the President's Office, Records and Archives Management Department, said the training would strengthen protection of government records and institutional data as more public services migrate to digital platforms. He added that the government is developing national guidelines to support the safe and responsible use of AI across public institutions.
The EU's Resident Adviser for the Digital Transformation Support Project, Jani Ruuskanen, said the partnership is designed to accelerate progress towards Tanzania's long-term development goals by drawing on expertise from European public institutions. He emphasised that the collaboration is based on mutual learning rather than one-way knowledge transfer, with European experts also learning from Tanzania's experiences.
The training is part of broader EU efforts to support Tanzania's digital transformation agenda, which the government identifies as a key driver of future economic growth, innovation and competitiveness under Vision 2050. The initiative reflects a growing focus on digital skills and cyber resilience as Tanzania expands e-government systems and AI-powered solutions.
ICT professionals gain advanced skills in high-demand areas, enhancing their employability and capacity to manage digital risks. Public institutions, including the President's Office, will be better equipped to safeguard sensitive data as services go digital. Private sector participants can apply improved security practices to protect their operations and customers. However, the training's impact is limited by its scale — 110 professionals is a small fraction of Tanzania's ICT workforce, and the programme does not address broader gaps in digital infrastructure or regulatory enforcement that may hinder effective implementation of data protection and AI guidelines.