Partnering Unit
Diamond Sponsors
Africa Statistics Day 2025

Data Challenge – Tanzania's Biggest Data Innovation Competition

Join innovators, students, developers, storytellers, and creators for a national data challenge designed to turn statistics into real solutions for Tanzania.

Data Competition

Contest Overview

The Africa Statistics Day 2025 Data Challenge is a lively innovation event that celebrates Africa Statistics Day on 18 December 2025. This year, the National Bureau of Statistics leads a strong initiative called the NBS Data Challenge. It gathers creative people from all over Tanzania to turn data into actual solutions. The Tanzania Startup Association (TSA) supports it.

The Data Challenge brings together innovators, students, startups, and public servants to tackle daily problems with data. By mixing the National Bureau of Statistics rich data sources with the drive of Tanzanian innovators, we highlight data's power to help make smarter choices in areas like health, education, agriculture, climate, econonics, and finance. This event goes beyond just coding—it focuses on creativity, solving problems, and working as a team.

View Rules Learn more

Data Competition

Who can participate?

Data Competition

Competition Timeline

Call for Applications
18-Nov-25 - 5-Dec-25
Teams register and submit their applications online.
Design solutions using data from the NBS website, portals, and other public sources.
Application deadline is 5 December 2025.
Final teams will be announced on 16 December 2025 (5 teams).
Application Round
Conquest Round
Teams Announced
16-Dec-25

  • Selected teams are announced and notified.
  • Teams prepare for the pre-event briefing.
  • Access to datasets and resources is provided.

Pre-event Briefing
20-Dec-25
Pre-event briefing and dataset sharing session
Teams receive final instructions and access to data resources
Mentorship and guidance from data and tech experts
Exhibition Round
Final Round
Hackathon Day
5-Feb-25
Africa Statistics Day Celebration - Full day hackathon event
Teams work intensively to create prototypes, visualizations, or data-based tools
Present ideas to a panel of judges for feedback and recognition
Prizes and Recognition

The hackathon is a learning experience first — but there will be exciting rewards

🥇 1st Prize
  • Funded training on basic Statistics in local university /institute
  • 3-month mentorship with Tanzania Startup Association (TSA)
  • Recognition on NBS digital platforms
  • One year opportunity to collaborate with NBS on a pilot project
  • NBS package
  • Announcement during the official closing ceremony
🥈 2nd Prize
  • Training on Statistics literacy provided by NBS
  • NBS Professional mentorship sessions
  • Recognition on NBS digital platforms
  • Announcement during the official closing ceremony
🥉 3rd Prize
  • Training on Statistics literacy provided by NBS
  • Recognition on NBS digital platforms
  • Announcement during the official closing ceremony
🏅 Special Recognition Awards

To encourage diversity and creativity:

Best Female-Led Team Award

We can seek sponsorship from gender partners

Best Public Impact Solution

For a project that best benefits citizens or public services

Young Innovators Award (Under 25)

To celebrate emerging talent

For All Participants
  • Certificate of Excellence (signed by Statistician General & partners)
  • Branded merchandise (T-shirt, notebook, badge)
  • Networking with universities, government, and tech hubs

Data Sources

Teams design solutions using data from the NBS website, portals, and other public sources. Focus areas include health, education, agriculture, climate, econonics, and finance.

Facilities & Technical Support

Fully equipped for product development.

  • In-person event venue with full day of innovation, guidance, and connections
  • Access to NBS data sources, portals, and other public data repositories
  • Mentorship from data and tech experts throughout the event
  • Open Data APIs and datasets from the National Bureau of Statistics
  • Technical support and guidance for prototype development

Partner unit

Data Yangu Logo

Please register to participate in Data Competition and turn your data into solutions that make statistics simple, open, and accessible for everyone.

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Competition Rules

How the Data Competition Works

Who Can Participate?

The Data Competition welcomes all Tanzanians aged 18 and older. Teams of two to five members team up. They design solutions with data from the NBS website, portals, and other public sources.

Key Requirements:

  • Must be a Tanzanian citizen
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Teams must have 2-5 members
  • Solutions must use data from NBS or other public sources

Event Format

The event happens in person. It offers a full day of innovation, guidance, and connections.

💡 Intensive Work Session

Work intensively for a day to create a prototype, visualization, or data-based tool.

👥 Expert Mentorship

Receive mentorship from data and tech experts throughout the competition.

🎯 Presentation & Judging

Present your ideas to a panel of judges for feedback and recognition.

What Participants Will Do

Work intensively for a day to create a prototype, visualization, or data-based tool.

Receive mentorship from data and tech experts.

Present their ideas to a panel of judges for feedback and recognition.

Data Sources

Participants will design solutions using data from:

NBS Website

NBS Portals

Other Public Sources

Important Notes

  • 1

    All team members must be present for the in-person event on 18 November 2025.

  • 2

    Solutions must be original and created during the competition day.

  • 3

    Teams are encouraged to use open data sources and ensure proper attribution.

  • 4

    Judging criteria will focus on innovation, impact, feasibility, and effective use of data.

Ready to Compete?

Join us on 18 November 2025 and turn your data ideas into reality!