DOT receives $573k grant for innovation, ICT training, outreach programme

Tanzania’s Digital Opportunities Trust (DOT) has received a grant in excess of GBP390,000 (US$573,000) from the UK’s Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) for the launch of a combined innovation, technology training and community outreach pilot programme.

The grant supports the launch of DOT’s  “Fusion – Technology and Innovation in Formal and Informal Learning” pilot project – to be run in collaboration with Tanzania’s Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) –  which combines promoting technical skills and innovation in education institutes with youth outreach in local communities.

The project will combine two of DOT’s core programmes – ReachUp! and TeachUp!; ReachUp! focusing on training local college and university graduates to coach community members in technology and real skills, while the TeachUp! programme places graduates into VETA facilities to support teachers with their use of ICT in classrooms.

DOT said the new combined programme hopes to impact 2,000 Tanzanian students and out-of-school youth, as well as 120 teachers and instructors over the two year pilot.

“DOT Tanzania is very excited to be recognized as an innovative social enterprise, contributing to the country’s Big Results Now (BRN) initiative,” said Eliguard Dawson, DOT Tanzania’s country programme manager.

“Through this programme, DOT Tanzania and VETA will work together to improve the technology skills of VETA trainers and will learn new methodologies to improve both the formal and informal learning of their students.”

The pilot project will transform three VETA vocational training centres in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro into community learning hubs serving students enrolled at VETA, and out-of-school youth in the surrounding communities.

“In addition to the institutional benefits that VETA will receive in this partnership, VETA graduates will be equipped with the skills that are necessary to empower them to be job creators, not employment seekers,” said Zebadiah Moshi, Director General of VETA.

“The spill-over effect to youth-out-of-school around each VETA centre is huge.”

Dar port to become nation’s biggest revenue contributor

The Minister Of East African Cooperation Dr Harrison Mwakyembe. 

THE Dar es Salaam Port will in three year time lead in contributing to the national income if the ongoing improvements to enhance efficiency at the port are timely implemented.

The Minister of East African Cooperation Dr Harrison Mwakyembe said this in Dar es Salaam after inaugurating the first 2015 Economic Freedom of Tanzania Conference organised by Uhuru Initiative for Policy and Education.

“The government commitments to remove all red tapes at the Dar es Salaam port and adoption of latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are progressively changing the port performance to international standards,” he said.

Dr Mwakyembe cited among others, the introduction of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and the recent launching of the three freight wagon train routes to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

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TPA services set to improve after TTCL’s fibre connectivity

TANZANIA Ports Authority’s (TPA) services are set to improve following completion of a major Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project connecting the headquarter’s office and its 13 branches throughout the country.

The project connects TPA with the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) with Fibre Optic Cable through a system called Multiprotocal Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

Through MPLS VPN system, TPA’s voice, data and internet services are set to be efficient and facilitate in improving services. “This project implemented by TTCL will help us improve ports’ services and those for our clients,” the TPA Acting Director for ICT, Mr Killian Chale, said during the official project handover ceremony held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

TPA’s branches connected with the system include headquarter office, Mwanza Port, Kigoma Port, Mtwara Port, Tanga port, Dar es Salaam Port, Mafia Port, Lindi Port, Kilwa, Pemba, Bukoba, Nansio and Musoma Ports.

According to Mr Chale, communication between one port and another will now use CISCO extension that is less expensive and efficient. “Paper works have tremendously dropped, hence increasing efficiency,” he noted.

He explained that the project was part of the ongoing efforts to improve Tanzania’s ports and make them competitive. He urged TTCL to continue with such a healthy relations with TPA to make the country’s ports modern in terms of ICT.

TTCL’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Senzige Kisenge hailed TPA for the decision to upgrade ICT infrastructure. “Your decision conforms to the government’s mission to use technology in attaining sustainable development,” he said.

He noted that the project was a major step for TPA’s digital transformation that will help the authority to improve quality of services and increase in trade.

So far, over 200 offices under the Prime Minister’s Office, Local Government and Regional Administration have been connected with TTCL’s optic fibre. Also connected include hospitals, various government’s institutions, banks, telecommunication companies among others