National Information and Communications Technology Policy 3.9.1.2 Policy Statements The Government, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall: i) Ensure that ICT is effectively integrated and utilized in the productive sectors to accelerate national development; ii) Promote linkages between productive sectors to benefit from development of ICT; iii) Facilitate development and utilization of ICT skills in the productive sectors. 3.10 Crosscutting Issues 3.10.1 Issue: Gender and Social Diversity Access to ICT is still a faraway reality for the vast majority of people who are socially diversified. The Government has recognized the gender and social diversity initiatives in Tanzania; such as ICT curricula for different levels of education including primary, secondary, vocation and higher learning institutions, and ICT gadgets for people with special needs has been provided. Despites the outlined Government initiatives, the population in rural and urban underserved areas is experiencing digital divide, shortage of basic infrastructure, high costs of ICT deployment and unfamiliarity with ICTs. These barriers pose greater challenges to social diversified groups who are more likely to be illiterate; do not understand English; lack opportunities for training in ICT and lack equipment that address their needs. Other challenges include unbalanced domestic responsibilities, cultural restrictions on mobility, lesser economic power as well as lack of relevant content for their needs, which marginalise them from participating effectively in the knowledge based economy. 3.10.1.1 Policy Objective To enhance participation of gender and social diversity groups in ICT. 37