Kigoma Fishers Go Digital: UDSM and EcoDigital Roll Out Fish Marketplace Platform

Kigoma, Tanzania—1st July 2025

Over 50 participants—including fishers, traders, community leaders, and government officials—gathered in Kigoma for a milestone event: the onboarding and official rollout of a new digital fish marketplace platform designed for the artisanal fishing communities of Lake Tanganyika.

The platform was co-developed by the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and EcoDigital, a commercial and innovation partner that played a central role in both product design and business strategy. The project is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the FISH4ACP program, which focuses on strengthening sustainable fish value chains across Africa.

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A Platform Built with the Community, for the Community

The marketplace platform was developed using a user-centered design process. The team carried out in-depth fieldwork and stakeholder consultations in Kigoma to understand the unique needs of small-scale fishers—such as limited access to markets, inconsistent pricing, and low levels of digital literacy.

“This is not just about deploying a system. It’s about building trust and tools that work for real people,” said Prof. Abdi T. Abdalla, the project’s Principal Investigator from UDSM.

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How the Platform Works

The digital marketplace enables users to:

• List fish products (sardine, sprat, perch, etc.) with pricing and availability

• Receive, confirm, and manage orders

• Connect with buyers and transporters

• Track sales, deliveries, and payments

• Access data for better planning and decision-making

The mobile app is lightweight, intuitive, and optimized for use in rural and low-bandwidth areas.

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Kigoma Onboarding Workshop: Community in Action

The onboarding event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders:

• Fishers and traders from across Kigoma

• Transport and logistics providers

• Government, law enforcement, and fisheries officials

• Local NGOs and development partners

• Teams from UDSM and EcoDigital

Over the two days, participants registered on the platform, explored its features, and simulated transactions. The workshop also emphasized the importance of digital literacy, quality control, and inclusive participation—especially for women and youth in the value chain.

“This is the first time I feel technology is truly coming to us, not the other way around,” shared one participant.

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EcoDigital: Driving Digital Innovation for Livelihoods

EcoDigital, led by its CEO Dr. Moses Ismail, is a Tanzanian-based innovation company that partners with institutions to design, develop, and scale community-oriented digital solutions. The company was instrumental in shaping both the technical architecture and business model of the fish marketplace platform.

“At EcoDigital, we believe in practical solutions that uplift communities. This marketplace is just the beginning of a larger mission to digitally transform livelihoods, starting with the fisheries sector,” said Dr. Ismail.

This platform joins a growing suite of EcoDigital innovations targeting energy, agriculture, health, and financial inclusion.

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What’s Next

With onboarding now complete, fishers and traders in Kigoma will begin using the system for real transactions. The development team will continue to provide support, gather feedback, and prepare for expansion to other regions around Lake Tanganyika.

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