Digital Hubs and Open Research Practices for Transforming Rural Livelihoods: Lessons from Northern Tanzania

The attached presentation outlines how digital hubs combined with open research practices can support rural transformation and resilience, drawing lessons from Northern Tanzania. It presents the experience of the Digital Hub for Open Research in East Africa, led by NM-AIST in collaboration with Floresta Tanzania, Garissa University (Kenya), African Rural University (Uganda), and INASP (UK). Using co-creation workshops, stakeholder engagement, and document analysis, the initiative improved access to research, strengthened digital skills, and expanded community learning through open science. The work highlights strong community participation, including citizen science, women and youth inclusion, and co-produced innovations such as organic fertiliser blends, low-cost soil testing, and climate-adaptation solutions. Overall, the presentation concludes that digital hubs offer a scalable model for Sub-Saharan Africa, enhancing institutional partnerships, open science capacity, and sustainable rural livelihoods.