PROJECT LAUNCH: Promoting Impact Tech in Tanzania
Impact Tech has been very well defined by Good Tech Lab as the intentional use of responsible (A) science and technology to benefit people and the planet (B), ideally addressing a major social or environmental problem (C ). The term has been thoroughly explained in an extract from Chapter 2: The Rise of Impact Tech.
Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) through one of it’s four operative units of Impact Technology is proud to initiate and launch the project “Promoting Impact Tech TZ”. The project is intended to play part in promoting solutions applied by young aggressive talented minds that use Technology and Innovation to provide Solutions in Tanzania by considering the Tanzanian context and challenges. We have named this group of young talented innovative minds as Tech Change Champions. This interest cuts across all categories in Ed Tech, Agri Tech, E-commerce, Logistics, Fin-tech & Blockchain, Jobs & Gigs, Software and Development, Clean Tech and Utilities as well as Health Tech plus many more.
At Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) we believe that in order for the nation/community to witness the positive impact, there is a need for identifying and establishing technological solutions with quality and right local information in order to make the best digital solutions based on the dynamics of the Tanzanian enterprise environment. Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) emphasises on the need to promote those working on the field producing technology of impact for the welfare of the community.
It is fortunate that there is an appetite and demand for Technology, Innovation and a need for assimilation into transformation to fully fledged institutions, organisations and initiatives. This alone creates a ripple effect to the increase of tech and innovative solutions in all fields apart from Fin-Tech which seems to carry more interest in the Tanzanian Tech ecosystem. That with an enabling environment (policies and structures are in place) made more evident with the newly re-established ministry of Communication and Information Technology carries immense potential in promoting impact tech in Tanzania.
Inspiration behind the Project of “Promoting Impact Tech in Tanzania”
- The evident appetite in Technology and Innovation in the region with a limited number of acknowledged web and app solutions. In 2019 Sahara Ventures in collaboration with Briter Bridges released a report on the Tech Ecosystem Outlook” showing Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza as the main ecosystem cities with a total of about 60 web or/and app solutions.
- The lack of Media Outlets/Platforms that consistently promote new technologies. Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) acknowledges that marketing of innovative applications is key to the visibility and viability for impactful success of the Digital Solutions introduced in our society.
- A scarcity of Platforms that consistently provide avenues focused on small App Developers. Available platforms as rare as they are, have no initiatives that promote conversations such as experiences for app developers with potential
- Potential partners in the ecosystem or interested in the ecosystem to forge strategic partnerships with.
Attributes of the targeted Tech Change Champions
Approach applied
The first approach that has been considered is enhancing visibility of the Tech Change Champions innovative solutions. To attain this we have decided to embrace the online and offline coverage through quality journalism that considers all multidisciplinary channels of news and information. It is on that note that Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) has partnered with Mwananchi Communications, a leading print media company in Tanzania — through there Digital Journalism Innovative Ecosystem initiative known as Habari Hub and Citizen newspaper for a full page featured article for the identified four Change Makers every Tuesday each month for three years as the first phase.
Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) will be using its Social Media platforms and online infrastructure to promote content dedicatedly for the five days sharing everything possible about the Tech Change Champion spotlighted every week with a full interview on Youtube, and customised content for LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Our overall goal
Our overall long term goal is for Tech & Media Convergency (TMC) in collaboration with strategic partnerships to enhance available as well as build new sustainable, transformative partnerships and synergies, by promoting and encouraging innovative technological efforts to contribute towards science, technology and innovation (STI) driven sustainable development and growth in Tanzania. We look forward to collaborating in forecasted Tech and Innovation-centric meet-ups, Annual Meeting gala/conference, monitoring and evaluation and mentorship to the Tech Change Champions.
We are excited and humbly call upon partners of all sorts (individual or institutional) to be part of this exciting journey in a variety of ways possible. We welcome recommendations of Tech Change Makers that have potential but yet to have had their stories told with attributes mentioned above. I finish out with a quote from Dean L. Kamen, “Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation”
Asha D. Abinallah
Chief Executive Officer,
January 18, 2021