World Bank hints at DTP Phase II

DAR ES SALAAM: THE World Bank has signalled support for a second phase of the Digital Tanzania Project (DTP), with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies expected to take centre stage as the current 150 million US dollar (about 397bn/-) programme enters its final weeks.

World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr Paul Seaden said the possible follow on phase would build on the milestones already achieved since the project’s launch in 2021, as the first phase heads towards its October 31 completion.

He described the project as a real success, saying its achievements in connectivity, digital services, digital skills and space had demonstrated how a digital transformation programme could deliver results and provide a model for other African countries.

“I think from our perspective, the DTP has been a real success. It’s been extremely broad in scope covering a number of activities in the connectivity, digital services, digital skills and space. From our perspective, we’re really pleased with the progress which has been achieved,” Mr Seaden said.

He said the project had produced strong results across the areas it targeted and stood as an example of how similar initiatives could succeed elsewhere on the continent.

Mr Seaden was speaking during the second day of a three-day World Bank Implementation Support Mission in Dar es Salaam yesterday, which brought together senior government officials and Bank representatives to review progress as the flagship project nears its closure next month.

DTP Coordinator, Mr Bakari Mwamgugu said the programme had helped raise internet penetration from about 50 per cent in 2021 to more than 80 per cent today, driven in part by 758 new communication towers built in previously unconnected areas and another 304 upgraded from 2G to 3G and 4G technologies.

“The main goal of the project was to take communication services to areas that previously had no connectivity but also to improve the quality of digital services for citizens,” Mr Mwamgugu said.

He said internet bandwidth capacity had increased from 15 gigabits per second (Gbps) to 60 Gbps, while government institutions, including hospitals, universities, schools, police stations, prisons and courts, had been connected electronically.

ALSO READ: World Bank considers supporting the 2nd phase of Dar Port improvement after good performance

Mr Mwamgugu said the project had also strengthened core government digital systems, including those operated by the Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) and the National Identification Authority (NIDA).

He said citizens could now apply for birth and death certificates online instead of spending time queuing at government offices, while the NIDA number had been rebranded and integrated across multiple services as the Jamii Namba.

The project has also equipped government data centres, including the National ICT Data Centre and facilities in Zanzibar, with servers, storage and software aimed at reducing the cost of hosting government systems.

On the digital skills front, Mr Mwamgugu said 500 government staff had been trained under the project, including 50 who pursued master’s degree programmes abroad in areas such as AI and Machine Learning, while another 450 completed short courses locally.

He said participants also undertook benchmarking programmes in India, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Estonia and Finland to strengthen the country’s digital expertise.

“Digital transformation is not only about putting up towers and installing systems. We also need the skills, policies and institutions that can sustain the transformation,” he said.

Director of Information and Communication Technology at the President’s Office – Public Service Management and Good Governance, Mr Priscus Kiwango, said the project had transformed government service delivery by shifting public institutions from manual, paper-based processes to digital platforms.

He cited the rollout of the Public Employees’ Performance Management Information System (PEPMIS) and the Government Service Directory, which allows citizens to check service requirements, processing times, locations and costs before visiting government offices.

“A citizen can now know what is required before leaving home,” Mr Kiwango said.

The Implementation Support Mission, which began on Monday and concludes tomorrow, is expected to help shape the project’s next steps, including deliberations on whether the second phase moves forward on the back of the first phase’s achievements.

The post World Bank hints at DTP Phase II appeared first on Daily News.