Tanzania Digital Accessibility, Inclusion challenges and opportunities

This episode of “Difficult Conversation Africa Podcast”  My guest is Imani Henrick Luvanga , a female award winning journalist from Tanzania who is driven by the passion to ensure no one is left behind in their access to digital accessibility believing digital exclusion harms  development more in every ramifications. The discussion is focused on the landscape of digital inclusion in Tanzania, highlighting the systemic challenges of digital exclusion—as well as potential pathways to improvement—through the lenses of accessibility and equitable access. It was published approximately three weeks ago. Key issues

1. Digital Accessibility
   • Explores barriers to connecting with the digital world in Tanzania—ranging from infrastructural gaps to affordability concerns.
   • Emphasizes the importance of accessible digital services for persons with disabilities and marginalized groups, extending beyond general connectivity.
2. Challenges
   • High device and data costs limit internet adoption in rural and low‑income areas.
   • Digital literacy remains low, especially among women, rural communities, and the elderly, exacerbating exclusion risks.
3. Regulatory and infrastructure shortcomings hinder reliable internet and service delivery while e‑government platforms need stronger usability and accessibility measures.
4. Opportunities & Innovations
   • Mobile networks & USSD tools can bridge gaps for feature‑phone users, promoting improved access to agricultural information and financial tools.
   • Investment in broadband infrastructure and community networks offers greater coverage and reliability.
   • Partnerships between government, private sector, NGOs, and CSOs can drive scalable solutions, such as digital literacy programs tailored to underserved communities.

Why It Matters Digital inclusion in Tanzania is not just a technical issue—it’s a development imperative. Connecting more people to the digital world can catalyze gains in education, agriculture, finance, and healthcare. UN, government, and donor efforts—like those by the World Bank’s IDEA program—show clear links between better connectivity, reduced poverty, and higher digital payments, making this discussion deeply relevant. Who can benefit from watching

• Researchers & policymakers can use this video as a case study for designing targeted digital inclusion strategies.
• Tech innovators & NGOs could find inspiration for developing low‑cost, accessible solutions for marginalized groups.
• Global donors might view this as evidence supporting investment in integrated digital development initiatives in East Africa.

Conclusion/Call to Action

• Foster public-private partnerships to lower costs of devices and connectivity.
• Prioritize digital literacy and accessibility in tool design and deployment.
• Scale successful pilots—like USSD and community networks—especially for rural and feature-phone users.