ARUSHA: TANZANIA is gearing up to modernise its cooperative sector with a strong push for the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Speaking at the 6th eGovernment Annual Meeting, which concludes today in Arusha, Registrar and CEO of the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) Dr Benson Ndiege highlighted the crucial role of ICT in modernising the country’s cooperative sector.
Dr Ndiege said that the integration of digital systems would not only streamline operations but also enhance governance, accountability and transparency, which are pivotal elements for the sector’s future growth.
The meeting, which brought together policymakers, ICT experts and industry stakeholders, focused on how ICT solutions can transform public service delivery, with a special emphasis on the cooperative sector.
Dr Ndiege underscored the significance of the Cooperative Supervision Management Information System (CSMIS), developed through a partnership between TCDC and the eGovernment Authority (e-GA).
This system, he explained, is set to revolutionise how cooperative societies in Tanzania manage their activities and interact with stakeholders.
“The integration of ICT into the cooperative sector will improve efficiency, reduce administrative burdens and provide easy access to data that is crucial for decision-making,” Dr Ndiege said.
He elaborated on the CSMIS, which centralises key cooperative data, including member records, financial reports, registration statuses and asset inventories. By digitising these critical components, the system will help cooperative managers oversee operations more effectively and generate timely analytical reports.
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With agriculture remaining the backbone of the country’s economy, cooperatives are central to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Dr Ndiege stressed that the digitalisation of cooperative management aligns with the government’s broader vision of promoting agricultural growth and empowering rural communities, as outlined in Tanzania’s Vision 2050.
This vision aims to transform the country into a semi-industrialised economy, with agriculture playing a central role.
By embracing ICT solutions, Tanzania’s cooperative sector is set to become more dynamic and capable of supporting smallholder farmers with better access to markets and resources.
According to Dr Ndiege, the push for digitalisation is key to fostering long-term sustainable development and improving the overall governance of the sector, which is integral to achieving the nation’s economic goals.