ICT Commission, Soft-Tech partner to boost digital growth
Director General of the ICT Commission, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga (left) with the Director of Soft-Tech Consultant Ltd, Harish Bhatt (right), display signed documents that kick-starts a partnership that aims at strengthening the ICT sector and creating opportunities for Tanzanian youth through digital innovation. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The partnership comes at a time when Tanzania is actively implementing its Digital Economy Framework, a key strategy aligned with the country’s National ICT Policy of 2023, which envisions a knowledge-based society leveraging ICT for inclusive development.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania ICT Commission has entered into a partnership with technology consulting firm Soft-Tech Consultant Ltd to enhance the development of the sector and expand opportunities for youth employment and innovation.
Director general of the ICT Commission, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, emphasised in a statement the importance of private sector collaboration in driving digital growth.
“Tanzania has a large population of talented youth who can contribute significantly to national development. Through this partnership, we aim to create more job opportunities and empower our youth to compete regionally and globally,” he said.
The partnership comes at a time when Tanzania is actively implementing its Digital Economy Framework, a key strategy aligned with the country’s National ICT Policy of 2023, which envisions a knowledge-based society leveraging ICT for inclusive development.
Under the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III), the government also prioritises digital transformation as a driver of socio-economic change, job creation, and service delivery.
The ICT Commission, a government agency under the ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, plays a critical role in coordinating the ICT ecosystem.
Its mandate includes advising the government on digital strategies, promoting ICT infrastructure development, and building capacity through innovation hubs and partnerships.
Soft-Tech, a company with 33 years of experience and operations in several African countries including Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, and The Gambia, expressed its commitment to supporting Tanzania’s digital transformation.
“We believe in meaningful collaboration with public institutions like the ICT Commission to develop systems that are not only useful in Tanzania but can also scale globally,” said CEO of Soft-Tech Consultant Ltd, Mr Harish Bhatt.
The partnership will focus on joint research, development of ICT systems, and capacity-building initiatives targeting young innovators as part of the government’s broader vision for a digital economy.
Among the key areas of collaboration are digital skills training for youth, creation of employment-oriented digital platforms, and the integration of emerging technologies into local solutions for public and private sectors.
Tanzania has already made strides in digital innovation, with several government services now being offered through online portals such as NIDA, BRELA, and TRA, and ongoing initiatives to roll out a national broadband backbone (NBB) to connect all regions of the country.
“This collaboration will not only strengthen our ICT infrastructure but also ensure that the youth are central to our transformation journey,” added Dr Mwasaga.
Soft-Tech’s expertise in digital public services, health informatics, and education technologies is expected to complement Tanzania’s ambitions, particularly in rolling out scalable tech innovations that address national challenges while creating employment.
As the government continues to push for digital inclusivity, partnerships like this are seen as key to unlocking the potential of the over 60 percent youth population, many of whom remain underemployed or lack access to digital tools.
