STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL GIRLS IN ICT DAY- 2021
FROM, DR. JABIRI K. BAKARI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, TCRA
THEME: “CONNECTED GIRLS, CREATING BRIGHTER FUTURES”

Tanzania join other International Telecommunication Union (ITU) member countries in the world tocommemoratethe International Girls in ICT Day which is celebrated every Thursday of fourth week of April every year. This year’s event will be celebrated on 22nd April 2021 with the theme: “Connected Girls Creating Bright Futures”.This year’s event will be marking 10th Anniversary of International Girls ICT Day. ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for Information and Communication Technologies – ICTs. It was founded to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, to allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.

In marking this day, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), have been working with various stakeholders to build awareness on the gender digital divide, support technology education and skills training, as well as encouraging more girls and young women to actively pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We are all responsible to inspire future generations to become technology leaders and active participants of the digital world regardless of gender, race background or preference. Girls in ICTevent has a positive impact to create a meaningful shift in the gender gap. In the effort to close gender digital access gap TCRA provide support to schools and communities in the provision of ICT equipment to girls’ schools as well as integrated ones and community ICT centers “Telecentres”. This year’s theme call for thecommunications sector players to focus more on the provision of ICT based services and ensure that more girls have access to ICT services including training and empowerment programs that will facilitate socio economic development activities and prepare them for their brighter future. Furthermore, TCRA has been organizing different competition such as cyberstar competition to encourage girls in ICTs. TCRA has licensed a number of Service Providers that includes Mobile Network Operators and Internet Service Providers so as to ensure wide coverage of ICT networks especially in rural areas. The licensing framework in Tanzania allows for service and technological neutrality hence enabling licensed entities to focus on ensuring innovation and penetration of services.The use of ICTs in improving people’s livelihoods are enormous; we have been able to improve the lives of people using ICTs in various applications and services. ICTs have the potential to support rural development, increase the resilience of rural families, improve access of farmers to markets and other servicesthat at the end will empower women and youths. I take this opportunity to encourage girls and young women to consider studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, practice and utilize the power of ICTs inparticipation of the socio economic activities that will lead to their bright future.

en-1621437906-STATEMENT BY TCRA-DG (English)