Tanzania’s Community Networks School launches 4th edition

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Fourth Edition of the Tanzania School of Community Networks (TZSCN) has officially opened in Dar es Salaam, bringing together a dynamic and diverse group of more than 50 participants.

These include community innovators, researchers, youth leaders and policymakers from across the country, who are united by a common mission- to design and implement practical, community-driven solutions that bridge Tanzania’s persistent digital divide.

The participants travelled from various regions with active grassroots digital initiatives, including Kondoa, Kasulu, Nyasa, Tarime, Dodoma and Dar es Salaam.

Each of these areas has been at the forefront of the community networks movement in Tanzania, an initiative that aims to bring affordable, inclusive and sustainable internet connectivity to underserved and rural populations.

According to the organisers of the event, the roots of this movement date back to 2014, when Dr Jabhera Matogoro, then a PhD candidate and lecturer at the University of Dodoma, launched a research project focused on low-cost, community-led connectivity solutions.

Over the past decade, that academic pursuit has grown into a trusted national framework for digital inclusion.

“Today, it is an inspiring model demonstrating the transformative potential of combining research, innovation and community participation,” said Eng Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of the Tanzania ICT Commission, who was the Guest of Honour.

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In his keynote address, Dr Mwasaga commended the resilience, creativity and determination of local communities in Kondoa, Tarime, Nyasa and Kasulu, reaffirming the government’s support for community networks, pledging continued assistance through inclusive digital policies, increased access to communication spectrum and initiatives for developing local digital skills.

He said this year’s edition of the TZSCN is particularly focused on strengthening cooperative models of ownership, promoting the development of localised content and empowering communities to manage and maintain their own digital infrastructure.

Dr Matogoro said during his opening remarks that they have demonstrated that community networks can improve access to education, enhance healthcare delivery and create opportunities for youth empowerment, especially in areas that have long been left behind by conventional infrastructure development.

“This is what happens when academic inquiry meets grassroots dedication,” said Dr Matogoro.

He emphasised that bridging the digital divide goes beyond building towers and expanding coverage, it also means equipping communities with the tools, knowledge and content necessary to use the internet in meaningful and productive ways.

“To truly close Tanzania’s digital divide, we must tackle both infrastructure and the ability to use it meaningfully. That means creating local content, teaching digital literacy and making sure that communities have ownership over their digital futures,” added Dr Matogoro.

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The school is supported by several key partners, including Paradigm Initiative, the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) and various grassroots cooperatives and community organisations. Through this collaborative approach, Dr Matogoro said that the TZSCN continues to serve as a critical platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue and innovation in the digital inclusion space.

As the week-long programme unfolds, participants will engage in intensive workshops, peer learning sessions and policy roundtables designed to accelerate progress in community network deployment, with the ultimate goal being building a more inclusive, equitable and connected Tanzania, one community at a time.