Tanzania ITU innovation center to drive digital transformation set for launch

Tanzania is launching an innovation hub hosted in to support the country’s digital transformation efforts, as well as those of the entire region and continent. The facility has been developed in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and received final approval at the institution’s Digital Innovation Board meeting held recently in Geneva.

The initiative is part of the ITU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development Foundation, established in 2025 as part of the push to boost global digital development. The ITU is a specialized UN agency supporting the integration of digital technologies into development initiatives.

An agreement for Tanzania to host the facility was signed in February 2024, months after the country had been selected to host one of 17 such ITU Acceleration Centers across the world. The primary objective is to bridge the digital innovation gap and assist countries in overcoming challenges they face on their digital transformation journeys.

The hub is intended to enhance ICT innovation and digital skills development in Tanzania, and help strengthen economic growth in the East African region.

The Tanzania Information and Communication Technologies Commission (ICTC) will manage the initiative, and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority is another frontline government body involved. Its Director General, Dr. Jabiri Bakari, who attended the Geneva meeting, lauded the initiative, saying it will substantially contribute to Tanzania’s digital progress.

“We have explored pathways to foster diverse innovations, enhance collaboration within universities and innovation institutions, and discussed the establishment of a system for exchanging information among innovation hubs worldwide,” Bakari is quoted by Citizen Tanzania as saying.

Authorities in Tanzania have been working on several innovations related to both the country’s telecom industry and digital identity, such as the introduction of SMS-based services, according to an article in the Daily News. Tanzania also requires SIM registration with biometric identity verification using national ID cards to prevent fraud.

NIN and ID card issuance accelerating

The imminent launch of the ITU Acceleration Center adds to a list of milestones underpinning Tanzania’s ongoing digital transformation. At the foundation of these efforts is the country’s national digital identity system, known as Jamii Namba, which is part of its digital public infrastructure (DPI).

Daily News reports the National Identification Authority (NIDA) has improved the speed of application processing and issuance for National Identification Numbers (NINs) and ID cards. NIDA MD James Kaji noted the distribution of thousands of long-delayed ID cards in regions like Mwanza as evidence of the improvement.

In the last few years, the government has not only increased its investment in the national identity system but has also implemented measures aimed at modernizing it and making it a tool to facilitate access to public and private sector services.

Permanent Secretary Ally Senga Gugu of the Ministry of Home Affairs explicitly linked the importance of the national ID to digital economic growth, as well as national security.

As part of actions to make the digital ID system more inclusive, the government is putting in place a regulatory framework to streamline biometric identity registration from birth.

Article Topics

biometric identification  |  digital ID  |  national ID  |  SIM card registration  |  Tanzania