UNESCO Trains Zanzibar Correctional Officers on AI and Digital Skills

The training of correctional officers in digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a crucial aspect of modernizing public institutions worldwide. In line with this trend, UNESCO Dar es Salaam partnered with the Zanzibar Correctional Facility to conduct a three-day Capacity-Building Programme on 21st Century Skills, Digital Pedagogy, Practical Digital Tools, and AI for correctional officers in July 2026.

The programme brought together 32 correctional officers from various departments within the institution. These included Administration and Management, Rehabilitation and Programmes, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Custody and Operations, and the ZCF Training College. This diverse representation reflects the institution’s commitment to embedding digital competencies across its workforce.

Commissioner of the Zanzibar Correctional Facility, Col. Khamis Bakari Khamis, opened the programme by expressing his appreciation for UNESCO’s facilitation. He described the initiative as timely and essential in strengthening the digital transformation of correctional services. Commissioner Khamis encouraged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme.

The three-day training focused on interactive presentations, practical demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and collaborative learning activities covering emerging digital competencies. Sessions included 21st Century Skills, digital workplace productivity, cyber safety, prompt engineering, AI-assisted research, responsible AI use, detection of AI-generated media, knowledge management using AI, and offline AI solutions suitable for secure institutional environments.

A distinguishing feature of the programme was its emphasis on practical application. Participants worked directly with various AI-powered tools to learn how they could improve report writing, official correspondence, information analysis, digital content verification, planning, and organizational efficiency while maintaining human oversight and ethical decision-making.

Participants demonstrated notable improvements in their confidence and ability to use digital technologies and AI in their daily work. They reported gaining practical skills that would enable them to streamline administrative processes, support evidence-based decision-making, and enhance the delivery of correctional and rehabilitation services.

One participant noted: ‘I can now write project proposals and reports with AI assistance and detect AI-generated media.’ This training has strengthened my professional skills and increased my capacity to perform duties more effectively. Participants also developed departmental action plans identifying practical opportunities to integrate newly acquired digital and AI competencies into their respective areas of work.

The programme resulted in the production of a reusable UNESCO training package and practical learning resources that can support future capacity-building initiatives within the Zanzibar Correctional Facility. This initiative forms part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to advance digital transformation and responsible AI use across education and public institutions in Tanzania.

UNESCO remains committed to supporting national efforts to strengthen digital competencies, promote ethical AI use, and foster innovation contributing to inclusive and sustainable development. As Tanzania continues its digital transformation agenda, the skills acquired through this programme will support institutional innovation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance correctional services delivery in Zanzibar.