ECA to assist Tanzania on its ICT policy review

Source: ECA Press Release No. 12/2012

Dar es Salaam, 16 February 2012 (ECA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) will lead the review process for the national ICT policy of Tanzania in cooperation with its Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology and the Government of Finland. The review process will focus on a second policy that actively involves stakeholders, as well as take into account current emerging trends, incorporating issues such as cyber-security, e-security, and reflecting Tanzania’s national development vision 2025.

The national ICT review process is part of a framework known as the Information Society and ICT Sector Development Project – TANZICT, which is a collaboration between the governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and Finland. It was based on this project that the two governments invited ECA to participate in the ICT policy section of the project.

Consequently, ECA will review and design an implementation plan for the policy, drawing on experiences and best practices from other African countries. Whilst on a planning mission to Dar-es-Salaam, ISTD Director, Ms Aida Opoku-Mensah, stressed: “One of the key features of the NICI process is a strong stakeholder inclusion, based on enhancing countries’ development plans and goals. Therefore, the policy review will take into account Tanzania’s development agenda, such as the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction”.

According to the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Dr Patrick Makungu, “Tanzania for the past 15 years has recorded various achievements in the ICT sector but the biggest challenge has been a systematic policy implementation process and the harmonization of e-initiatives. It is hoped that with the involvement of ECA’s technical assistance, this challenge will be overcome”.

Other key Government representatives at the meeting held with the ECA delegation stressed the importance of ICT for economic transformation and with the economy of Tanzania, which is expected to grow by 10% in 2025. There are expectations that ICTs will contribute towards such growth. According to the ECA/Government of Finland Technical Advisor, Mr Matti Sinko, “this initiative in Tanzania consolidates the work between the Government of Finland and ECA, through their Cooperation on ICT for Development in Africa”.

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