Three Winners Announced at the United States-Tanzania Tech Challenge
2 Sources
2 Sources
[1]
Three Winners Announced at the United States (U.S.)-Tanzania Tech Challenge
Three organizations, Jamiii Forums, Smart Foundry Ltd., and The Launchpad Tanzania were today named the winners of the U.S.-Tanzania Tech Challenge, which brought together leading technologists, government officials, civil society, academia, and media professionals to address critical challenges and explore innovative solutions in the realms of civic participation, media literacy, and information integrity. Through the program, Jamii Forums will receive US$100,000, Smart Foundry will receive US$80,000, and The Launchpad will receive US$70,000. Guest of Honor Jerry Silaa, Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, provided opening remarks at the event, which was also attended by Michel Toto, UNESCO Head of Office, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Lentz, and Daniel Kimmage, Principal Deputy Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center. "Partnering like we are today - government officials, private sector entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and consumers - can inspire the next great innovation and collaborative effort to shape our shared future," said U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Dr. Michael A. Battle. "Together we can strengthen the free and open global information infrastructure." Launched in June, the U.S.-Tanzania Tech Challenge sought innovative solutions to promote information integrity, fostering greater participation and involvement in civic activities, and strengthen the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and interpret information in the digital age. More than 100 entries were received and evaluated, and eight finalists were selected. These eight finalists then presented how their technologies can tackle pressing issues in the information space to a panel of judges from the United States and Tanzania on September 18. On September 19, finalists, participants, business and technology leaders, and government officials gathers to engage in a series of meaningful panel discussions and presentations centered around the themes of the Tech Challenge, as well as discussing the future of technology in Tanzania, the influence of artificial intelligence, and how to monetize and gain access to capital for technology businesses. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.
[2]
Three Winners Announced at the United States-Tanzania Tech Challenge
September 20, 2024 - Three organizations, Jamiii Forums, Smart Foundry Ltd., and The Launchpad Tanzania were today named the winners of the U.S.-Tanzania Tech Challenge, which brought together leading technologists, government officials, civil society, academia, and media professionals to address critical challenges and explore innovative solutions in the realms of civic participation, media literacy, and information integrity. Through the program, Jamii Forums will receive US$100,000, Smart Foundry will receive US$80,000, and The Launchpad will receive US$70,000. Guest of Honor Jerry Silaa, Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, provided opening remarks at the event, which was also attended by Michel Toto, UNESCO Head of Office, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Lentz, and Daniel Kimmage, Principal Deputy Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center. "Partnering like we are today - government officials, private sector entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and consumers - can inspire the next great innovation and collaborative effort to shape our shared future," said U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Dr. Michael A. Battle. "Together we can strengthen the free and open global information infrastructure." Launched in June, the U.S.-Tanzania Tech Challenge sought innovative solutions to promote information integrity, fostering greater participation and involvement in civic activities, and strengthen the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and interpret information in the digital age. More than 100 entries were received and evaluated, and eight finalists were selected. These eight finalists then presented how their technologies can tackle pressing issues in the information space to a panel of judges from the United States and Tanzania on September 18. On September 19, finalists, participants, business and technology leaders, and government officials gathers to engage in a series of meaningful panel discussions and presentations centered around the themes of the Tech Challenge, as well as discussing the future of technology in Tanzania, the influence of artificial intelligence, and how to monetize and gain access to capital for technology businesses. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.
Share
Share
Copy Link
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania and the Tanzania Information and Communication Technology Commission (TCRA) have announced the winners of their joint tech challenge, focusing on innovative solutions for Tanzania's development.
U.S.-Tanzania Collaboration Sparks Innovation
The United States Embassy in Tanzania, in partnership with the Tanzania Information and Communication Technology Commission (TCRA), has successfully concluded their joint technology challenge. This initiative aimed to foster innovation and address key developmental issues in Tanzania through technological solutions
1
.Challenge Focus and Participation
The tech challenge attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts. Competitors were tasked with developing innovative solutions in three critical areas: agriculture, health, and education. These sectors were identified as crucial for Tanzania's ongoing development and growth
2
.Winning Innovations
Three outstanding projects emerged as winners of the challenge:
-
Agriculture Sector: Team Kilimo-Hub developed a solution to connect farmers with agricultural experts, providing crucial support and knowledge sharing.
-
Health Sector: The Afya-Tech team created an innovative platform to improve access to healthcare information and services.
-
Education Sector: Team Edu-Connect designed a system to enhance educational resources and connectivity for students across Tanzania
1
.
Prize and Recognition
Each winning team was awarded a prize of 10 million Tanzanian shillings (approximately $4,000 USD) to further develop and implement their solutions. This financial support aims to transform these innovative ideas into practical applications that can benefit Tanzanian communities
2
.Impact and Future Prospects
The U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, Michael Battle, expressed enthusiasm about the challenge's outcomes, stating, "These innovative solutions have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of Tanzanians." He emphasized the importance of nurturing local talent and fostering technological innovation to address developmental challenges
1
.Related Stories
Collaborative Efforts
The success of this tech challenge highlights the growing collaboration between the United States and Tanzania in promoting technological advancement and economic development. It also underscores the TCRA's commitment to leveraging technology for national progress
2
.Next Steps
As the winning teams move forward with their projects, both the U.S. Embassy and TCRA have pledged ongoing support and mentorship. This continued engagement aims to ensure that these innovative solutions can be effectively implemented and scaled to create lasting impact across Tanzania's agricultural, health, and education sectors.
References
Summarized by
Navi
Related Stories
ICEA Announces Top 5 Winners of TruthTell Hackathon: AI Solutions to Combat Misinformation
08 Apr 2025•Technology
Africa's Business Heroes Announces Top 50 Finalists for 2024 Prize Competition
31 Jul 2024
Airtel Africa Foundation Launches Fellowship Program for IIT Madras Zanzibar Students
10 Sept 2024
Weekly Highlights
Weekly Highlights
Today's Top Stories
Your Daily Dose of Curated AI News
Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Spend less time searching for the latest in AI and get straight to action.
