A specialised training programme opened in Dar es Salaam on 29 July 2026 to equip 110 ICT professionals from Tanzania's public and private institutions with skills in artificial intelligence, cyber security, and personal data protection, as the country pursues its digital transformation goals under the National Development Vision 2050. The initiative is implemented through cooperation between Tanzania and the European Union, with technical support from Estonia, Germany, and Finland, and is part of broader EU efforts to support Tanzania's digital agenda.
Opening the training, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of the Tanzania Information and Communication Technologies Commission (ICTC), said digital transformation brings opportunities but also exposes governments, businesses, and citizens to increasingly sophisticated cyber risks. He stressed that building the right skills is critical as Tanzania accelerates its digital adoption, and that digital trust—ensuring personal information is protected, privacy respected, and services secure—is fundamental to increasing public confidence in digital services. The programme also addresses risks from AI misuse, methods for securing digital infrastructure, and best practices for 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 online. He noted the government is expanding AI use across public institutions while developing national guidelines for its responsible deployment.
Jani Ruuskanen, Resident Adviser for the Digital Transformation Support Project, said the partnership is based on mutual learning rather than one-way knowledge transfer, with European experts also learning from Tanzania's experiences. The training comes as Tanzania implements the National Development Vision 2050, which identifies digital transformation as a key driver of future economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness.
The initiative is expected to benefit Tanzanian ICT professionals and public institutions by enhancing their capacity to protect critical systems and support innovation, while also improving consumer confidence in digital services. However, the programme's impact may be limited by its scale—110 participants out of a large workforce—and by the need for sustained investment in infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to fully realise the benefits of digital transformation across all sectors.