Tanzania is a country rich in natural resources (UNESCO)

Tanzania is a country rich in natural resources, such as gold, diamonds, tanzanite, nickel, uranium and natural gas. However, all these resources haven’t transformed the standard of living of many citizens. According to UNICEF, the number of Tanzanians experiencing poverty is estimated at 12.9 million which is around 30% of the country’s population. Approximately 80% of Tanzanians live in rural areas which mean that the majority of people living in poverty are located in rural areas, places only served by the few local radios operating in Tanzania. The UNESCO project "Empowering Local Radio with ICTs" is important for Tanzania as it bridges the differences in access to knowledge and information between people living in the urban areas and those living in the rural areas. To tell us more about the media sector and the challenges it faces in Tanzania, we asked Professor Mohammed Sheya, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the United Republic of Tanzania to UNESCO.