INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING

Information technology is an important element for sustainable development of all sectors. Due to the growth of the sector, demand for reliable modern energy to support effective applications of information technology is becoming a major concern. In addition, having modern information technology in the energy sector will facilitate efficient functioning of energy activities inter-alia assessments, planning, policy analysis and other managerial services.

In supporting the use of Information technology, TaTEDO established Information management and networking department. The Information Management and Networking  is a department which aim at promoting sustainable energy issues through enhanced accessibility of information to the management and staff of TaTEDO and other interested stakeholders to support energy development activities in Tanzania. The department also deals with the public relation and organisational marketing activities.  The efforts of this department trickled down from the national to the local levels in order to benefit people of different income levels in Tanzania.

The department ensures  that the existing information is well organised and in a system which will  collect, collate, analyse and deliver information to TaTEDO staff and other stakeholders in the energy and non energy sector. The department promoting sustainable energy activities to ensure that TaTEDO has positive image to the public and the organisation is well known by stakeholders.  Through various programme the department have been able to implement the following activities

In order to improve its activities and to meet information needs of TaTEDO staff, partners and other energy stakeholders’ organization library was established.  The library materials are normally bought from various bookshop and some are collected from various sources such as libraries, conferences, meetings and through various trainings. There are more than 2000 resources in library which include books, manuscript, journals, leaflets, CD ROM, Also, members of staff have access to online information these are e-library, e-journal, and other online resources.  

The department also has developed energy information management system in order to provide well organised information gathering, storage and delivery services. Information organised under this system are documents, statistics, photographs, books. In this system department develop electronic documentation programme, which is operating in the Local Area Network (LAN). There are more than 127 documents which categorized in different subjects such as national reports, research papers and renewable energy documents. TaTEDO also maintains the Local Area Network (LAN) with thirty three computer workstation with access to internet.  TaTEDO also disseminate information through its website.

A sustainable energy still depends on the access to hard energy information materials for some stakeholders. The department process and prints some awareness information materials such as brochures, leaflets, bulletins, reports etc.  The printing of these materials is done in department printing unit. 

Through its information system internet email and other communication facilities the department has been able to strengthen Networking and Information sharing with various stakeholders inside and outside the country. The sharing of information has been done through the monthly bulletin (Taarifa energy Information) and bi annual newsletter SEDF and TUJIELIMISHE. The newsletters and bulletin have been distributed to over thousands partners inside and outside Tanzania.  

The department agreed with the policy suggestion that there is a need to improve energy services, especially electricity geared towards enhanced use of modern information technologies. Areas of improvements are overall incentives, working conditions and how to facilitate institutions and organisations working on research in energy and information technology, and dissemination of data and energy information. Furthermore, there is a need to create and develop modern information networks on energy matters.