TANZANIA has earned global recognition in the field of digital innovation, with three national projects emerging as a champion in the prestigious 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Awards.

A statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Tanzania communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), said that the WSIS Awards are a global initiative established by the United Nations to highlight excellence in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in advancing sustainable development. 

“This year’s rigorous selection process began in October 2024, drawing a total of 973 project submissions from around the world. In April 2025, 360 projects were shortlisted for the public voting phase, from which only 90 were selected as champions on May 22,” TCRA said in a statement.

Out of these 90 winning projects, 23 are from Africa, representing 20 different countries. Tanzania stood out by contributing three champion projects—the highest from any African nation—in the category of ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life. The winning projects span key development sectors: e-health, e-government, and e-science.

The three Tanzanian champion projects include e-Mrejesho V2, developed by the e-Government Authority (eGA), which enhances public service delivery and feedback mechanisms, recognised under the e-Government category.

Zanzibar health services project, by PharmAccess, which uses digital tools to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient access to services, recognised in the e-Health category.

STEM4All, a project of St. Joseph University, which promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, awarded under the e-Science category.

“These accolades are a testament to Tanzania’s commitment to harnessing ICT for national development. They reflect the success of digital policy reforms and technology-based initiatives championed under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Her administration has prioritised innovation, inclusion, and digital transformation as key tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” a statement reads in part.

“These achievements reflect not only innovation but also the effective implementation of national digital strategies. They place Tanzania at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation journey,” the statement said.

With the spotlight now on Geneva, Switzerland, anticipation is building as the final 18 global winners will be announced at the WSIS+20 high-level event scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2025.