Dodoma, Tanzania, 12 March 2026 (ECA) - Building on its ongoing efforts to strengthen national data systems, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and strategic partners, convened a national Validation Workshop for the Tanzania Electronic Data Governance Strategy (TZeDGS), making a decisive shift toward operational readiness.
Tanzania’s data governance journey reflects the country’s broader and accelerating digital transformation agenda, marked by sustained investments in digital infrastructure, expanding digital public services, and a strong policy commitment to building an inclusive digital economy. Through initiatives such as the Tanzania Technology Stack, the expansion of connectivity to underserved areas, and the development of digital identity and interoperable platforms, Tanzania has laid a solid foundation for a digital society aligned with its long-term Vision 2050 ambitions.
As this digital ecosystem continues to evolve, the role of electronic data as a strategic national asset has become increasingly central. Across key sectors, including finance, agriculture, healthcare, and public administration, growing volumes of data are being generated through digital platforms, creating new opportunities for innovation, evidence-based decision-making, and improved service delivery. In this context, Mr. Mactar Seck of ECA at the opening emphasized that the validation of TZeDGS “represents a critical value addition to Tanzania’s ongoing digital transformation journey”. He noted this enables Tanzania not only to harness the full value of its digital transformation efforts but also to position itself to respond to emerging global trends, including Artificial Intelligence and data-driven economies
Partners, including the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and GIZ-AU office, further underscored that by embedding data governance within Tanzania’s national digital architecture, particularly through its alignment with the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the broader technology stack, the eData strategy strengthens the foundations for trust, interoperability, and accountability across institutions.
The workshop featured detailed presentations on the strategy’s conceptual framework, development methodology, and stakeholder engagement process, followed by technical discussions on its core pillars and implementation architecture. Particular focus was placed on the results framework, as well as monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation (MELA) mechanisms to ensure effective and responsive implementation. The technical exercise generated substantive feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, academic institutions, and sectoral agencies.
Key deliberations on data sovereignty emphasized the need to balance regional alignment with flexibility, with the strategy maintaining a technology-neutral approach that promotes interoperability, international cooperation, and adaptability beyond specific regional blocs. Stakeholders also examined the treatment of data subject rights, data security, and data lifecycle management, where the strategy reinforces high-level principles on privacy, accountability, and responsible data use, while setting clear direction for modern, risk-based security practices without over-prescribing regulatory detail. In parallel, discussions confirmed the integration of eData management guidelines within the Results Framework Matrix, strengthening data stewardship. Collectively, these inputs informed targeted refinements, ensuring that the strategy remains coherent, implementable, and aligned with both national priorities and international best practices.
Closing the workshop, the Government of Tanzania, represented by Director Mohamed Mashaka of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing TZeDGS toward formal adoption. Mr. Mashaka emphasized that, aligned with the government’s 10-year Digital Economy Strategy Framework (2024–2034) and its focus on open-source digital public infrastructure, the strategy provides the necessary strategic direction to ensure that Tanzania can harness the full value of its digital transformation.
This validation process underscores the importance of establishing a coherent framework for managing, sharing, and safeguarding eData. ECA foresees that Tanzania’s strategy will reduce operational inefficiencies, break down institutional silos, and enhance transparency and service delivery. At the same time, it expects the strategy to address emerging risks related to data security, privacy, and capacity gaps, ensuring a resilient and trusted digital ecosystem. By providing a scalable model, this approach encourages other African countries to adopt robust national eData governance frameworks, thereby accelerating the continent’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Read more about the Tanzania Electronic Data Governance Development Process...
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org