Data Challenge

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

Contest Overview

The 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.

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Data Competition

Who can participate?

Who Can Participate

All Tanzanians aged 18 and older are welcome to participate

Team Composition

Teams of two to five members can participate together

No Experience Required

Whether you're a data analyst, designer, or simply someone with a great idea—this event is for you.

Open to All

Innovators, students, startups, and public servants are all encouraged to join and turn data into solutions.

Data Competition

Competition Timeline

Call for Applications
18-Nov-25 - 10-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 10 December 2025.
Final teams will be announced on 25 January 2026 (5 teams).
Application Round
Conquest Round
Teams Announced
25-Jan-26

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

Pre-event Briefing
30-Jan-26
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
10-Feb-26
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
  • Cash Prize and Inkind
  • 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
  • Cash Prize and Inkind
🥉 3rd Prize
  • Training on Statistics literacy provided by NBS
  • Recognition on NBS digital platforms
  • Announcement during the official closing ceremony
  • Cash Prize and Inkind
🏅 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 government 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