THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced its commitment to supporting Tanzania in its efforts to achieve digital transformation.

The pledge was conveyed by Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, in a letter to Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of Tanzania's ICT Commission, during Dr. Mwasaga’s recent official visit to France.

Jelassi praised Tanzania’s proactive approach and progress in advancing its digital revolution, emphasising the importance of digital skills as a cornerstone for successful and sustainable digital transformation. 

“We are pleased to support Tanzania’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology and the ICT Commission in enhancing digital competencies,” he stated.

He highlighted the role of UNESCO’s Public Competence Framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation as a dynamic tool designed to aid member countries in adapting to technological changes.

“In this context, we recommend that Tanzania’s ICT Commission and UNESCO collaborate on a comprehensive needs assessment study to evaluate digital skills across government sector and the broader public. This would be followed by targeted capacity-building initiatives to address identified gaps,” Jelassi said.

He outlined the proposed training initiatives, which will cover fundamental areas such as data management, privacy, cybersecurity, and AI. For senior officials, the focus will extend to competencies such as collaboration, strategic foresight, and human-centered public service design.

Jelassi commended Dr. Mwasaga’s leadership at the ICT Commission, expressing confidence in its ability to position Tanzania as an international hub for innovation. 

“We look forward to working with you and assure you of our full support in this digital transformation journey,” he said.

Speaking on Tanzania’s readiness to accelerate its digital transformation, Dr. Mwasaga credited the collaborative efforts between the ICT Commission and UNESCO Office in Dar es Salaam, to UNESCO Country Representative Michel Toto.