DigI:Roundtable Digital-Rural-Tanzania 16Apr2018

= Venue= Embassy of Norway, 38 Mirambo St, Dar es Salaam.

Participants came from:
 * Ministry of Health
 * Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication
 * UCSAF
 * TCRA
 * Vodacom
 * Tigo
 * TTCL
 * Helios Towers
 * DigI team

Due to the flooding in Dar es Salaam several envisaged participants, both from Embassies, Operators and NGOs were not able to join.

= Agenda =
 * 1200h Registration
 * 1300h Welcome (Embassy of Norway)
 * 1305h Table Round
 * 1320h Showcase How to empower rural Tanzania (Josef Noll)
 * 1330h Contributions from participants and discussion
 * 1600h 14:30h end of meeting (due to weather situation)

Follow-up from Round Table Discussion 12Feb2018. Invitation to Showcase Digital Rural Tanzania.

= Minutes =

Summary
[[Media:201804-Roundtable_NO_Embassy_DigitalRural_Noll.pdf|The introductory presentation]] stated the need for digital inclusion in Rural Tanzania, and was supported by contributions from the participants
 * WorldBank studies show that 1% increase in mobile broadband lead to 1.3% increase in GDP, exceeding the increase compared to mobile telephony only (2G) roll-out.
 * The coverage situation in Tanzania is challenging, as the communities are wide spread. With a total of 55 million People living on roughly 950 km2, out of which around 100 km2 are water surfaces, the distance between villages can be as much as 30 km, with village populations down to 800 people.

Operators and USCAF confirmed that the uptake of Mobile Broadband will come, though the digital divide will increase, and the existing migration from rural areas will continue. Loosing the young population in the villages not only exaggerates the challenges for the villages, but also puts a threat on the migrating youth themselves, as most of them will not find decent work. Ideas on what can be done where addressed, including
 * more affordable access to information
 * Health systems (see next paragraphs)
 * Education platforms with zero rated content and smart schools
 * Content to promote digital uptake (see further down)

The NGOs provided several examples pointing out the need for connectivity in order to have a more efficient support for projects regarding health, education and agriculture. Out of the more than 140 health initiatives, details were provided for the online health facility registry and the immunisation programme. Common understanding was reached that information to clients is substantial to achieve better health. Key criteria for success of online health is the design of the application, to be tailored for accessibility and availability.

To foster digital uptake is a major challenge, as relatively little content is available in local languages. Telecom Regulatory is looking into ways of securing accessibility and affordability. Digital content uptake needs a combined effort, including a.o. digital content from the ministries, demands from the society and organisations supporting them, as well as regulations and incentives.

Further contributions from the Roundtable discussion
Health
 * A recommendation to contact Tanzania Mhealth PPP. Large hard drive with educational information. https://p4-project.org/mhealth-tanzania-ppp/
 * Address also health workers as consumers. Health facility registry online – will share list from PATH on ongoing dig health activities. Elaine will send sheet. See also PATHs HIV/AIDS and TB program: http://sites.path.org/hivaidsandtb/home/strategic-communication-and-community-mobilization/
 * mHealth community of practice : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/tanzania-mhealth

Infrastructure
 * Comment on infrastructure – led by Information. Increase of broadband leading to increase of GDP. Challenge to researches in the room – how to get it right? Talk to the locals – they know what they want.
 * Services are more important than coverage. Helios has 60% markedshare in the number of tower, and is leading the consolidation. Challenge is to provide power. Discussion with UCSAF and GSMA. Big tower needs high power, thus fossil fuel, and more expensive. Though they provide better coverage.
 * Smaller tower, e.g. solar powered, are in use in some of the UCSAF supported sites.
 * A detailed discussion addressed the challenges of connecting Izazi from Migoli, due to the topography inbetween.
 * Can we bring two-three ways of testing to get a best practise approach? To see if solutions are scalable and sustainable, more information was required.

Content and up-take
 * What kind of content can trigger digital use, for people to get online?
 * If professionals will contribute to require content, then the business model for sustainable operation of informations spots will be easier.
 * Design comment – how should the program be sustainable, available and content localized. Lacking best practise on design.
 * A brief discussion on involvement of local community followed.
 * Every village has their own need – Selela pastoralist society, Izazi cultivating society, Migoli fisher society.

The discussion can be summarised by The solution is in this room, with these kind of stakeholders (Rosalynn Mworia) Specific meetings were scheduled as follow up of the round table.