CoICT HOSTS NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ON THE ICT JAMII SANDBOX INITIATIVES 

Dar es Salaam, 10 June 2026 – 

The College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT) of the University of Dar es Salaam, hosts a Workshop on the proposed ICT Jamii Sandbox, Tanzania's envisioned National Public Innovation Sandbox, held at the Kilimanjaro Hall, CoICT, Kijitonyama Campus and attended both physically and virtually, the workshop forms part of an ongoing consultancy commissioned by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology (MICIT) under Contract No. 68/2025/2026/C/03 .

The workshop brought together key stakeholders from government, regulatory authorities, financial institutions, telecommunications providers, innovation hubs, startup ecosystem organizations, development partners, and academia to contribute towards the design and development of a national framework that will support innovation, regulatory experimentation, and technology-driven economic growth.

 Strengthening Tanzania's Innovation Ecosystem 

In his opening remarks, the Principal of CoICT, represented by Dr. Godwin Mruma, a  Head of Department - ETE, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaborative engagement in shaping a robust national innovation ecosystem capable of supporting emerging technologies and startups.

Delivering the keynote presentation, Dr. Moses Ismail Mchome, Team Leader of the ICT Jamii Sandbox Consultancy, outlined the vision of the ICT Jamii Sandbox as a cross-sector, infrastructure-backed innovation platform designed to provide innovators with a single-entry window for testing new solutions across multiple regulatory domains.

The proposed sandbox aims to address existing challenges within Tanzania's innovation landscape, including fragmented regulatory processes, limited access to testing infrastructure, insufficient data and API access, and barriers faced by startups seeking to scale innovative solutions.

 Multi-Stakeholder Engagement 

The workshop featured presentations and discussions involving representatives from:

- Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)
- Bank of Tanzania (BoT)
- Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
- NMB Bank PLC
- Vodacom Tanzania
- Buni Innovation Hub
- Sahara Ventures
- Tanzania Startup Association (TSA)
- UNDP Tanzania – Funguo Innovation Programme

Participants shared experiences from existing sandbox initiatives, discussed regulatory and infrastructure gaps, explored startup and investment ecosystem needs, and provided recommendations on governance, funding, and implementation models for the proposed national sandbox.

 Key Areas of Discussion 

The workshop focused on four thematic sessions:

1. Existing Sandbox Landscape
Stakeholders reviewed current sandbox initiatives operated by regulators and financial institutions, identifying lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities for coordination under a national framework.

2. Gap Analysis, Regulatory Framework and Infrastructure
Participants examined policy, infrastructure, taxation, and regulatory challenges affecting innovation and proposed mechanisms for creating a more enabling environment for startups and technology innovators.

3. Startup Ecosystem, Investment and Development Finance
Innovation hubs, startup associations, investors, and development partners discussed strategies for strengthening startup support services, improving access to capital, and creating sustainable pathways for innovation growth.

4. Proposed Sandbox Framework Validation
Stakeholders reviewed and validated proposed governance structures, funding mechanisms, operational models, and a recommended Phase I focus on GovTech and Digital Public Services.

 Towards Tanzania's National Public Innovation Sandbox 

The ICT Jamii Sandbox is envisioned as a national platform that will enable innovators to access regulatory support, digital infrastructure, testing environments, mentorship, investor networks, and capacity-building opportunities through a coordinated multi-stakeholder framework.

Recommendations and inputs gathered during the consultation workshop will directly inform the ongoing development of the Landscape and Gap Analysis Report, Design Framework Report, and Final Implementation Roadmap being prepared by the CoICT Consultancy Bureau for MICIT.

 Next Steps  

Following the workshop, the CoICT project team will consolidate stakeholder feedback into the consultancy deliverables and continue engagements with participating institutions through validation sessions and technical consultations.

The outcomes of this initiative are expected to contribute significantly to strengthening Tanzania's innovation ecosystem and positioning the country as a competitive hub for technology-driven solutions, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship.

 About CoICT Consultancy Bureau 

The CoICT Consultancy Bureau is the professional consulting arm of the College of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Dar es Salaam. The Bureau provides expert services in ICT policy, digital transformation, innovation systems, emerging technologies, capacity building, research, and technology advisory services to public and private sector organizations