Background
The rapid pace of digital transformation across Africa presents immense opportunities but also significant challenges, particularly concerning data governance. While the continent generates vast amounts of data from mobile, financial, and online sources, much of this asset is processed outside Africa, hindering its potential for economic growth and innovation within member states. The current data governance landscape in Africa is characterised by fragmentation, with inconsistent laws and regulations, leaving countries susceptible to cyber threats and privacy violations.
Recognising this, continental frameworks such as the African Union (AU) Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), the AU Data Policy Framework (AUDPF), and the Malabo Convention, provide essential guiding principles. However, many African nations are still in the process of adopting these frameworks and developing their own national data protection policies, leading to persistent data breaches, regulatory inconsistencies, and unequal access to data-driven opportunities across the continent.
In response, the Technology, Innovation, Connectivity, and Infrastructure Division (TICID) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) spearheads regional efforts to bridge this gap by strengthening Member States' capacity to localize relevant continental and global frameworks. Through the systematic conduct of national data governance needs assessments and the development of country-contextualized implementation roadmaps, ECA provides both technical guidance and consultative support to enable sustainable policy enforcement.
ECA, as a leading implementing partner, and GIZ through the EU-Delegation Fund, as a powering stakeholder of the Data Governance in Africa (DataCipation) initiative, collaborate on the development of National Data Governance Frameworks across African countries. This partnership advances the inclusive and harmonized implementation of the African Union’s digital and data policy framework, ultimately contributing to the continental objective of establishing a unified and inclusive African data market. In addition to supporting legislative and regulatory alignment, ECA plays a strategic role in shaping data governance systems to include critical sectors such as health, financial services, education, and public administration.
Tanzania
Tanzania as one of the target countries engaged in the 2025 ECA’s data governance support initiative, alongside Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing its National Electronic Data Governance Framework, underpinned by close collaboration between national and international stakeholders.
The collaboration with the Government of Tanzania is primarily channelled through the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology (MICIT), which plays a central role in regulating, supervising, and monitoring the ICT sector in the country. The ECA technical team worked closely with MCIT and strategic partners to co-lead the overall process.
Consultations and workshops engaged a broad spectrum of national stakeholders, including representatives from the President’s Office and key government ministries, including Communications and Digital Transformation, Legal Affairs, Energy and Water, Environment, Economy, Finance, Statistics, Justice, Health, and Transport & Logistics), as well as major regulatory bodies including the Central Bank, and national communications authorities. The process also brought together private sector actors and infrastructure providers, including telecommunications companies, data centre operators, and financial institutions. Academic institutions, notably the University of Dodoma, alongside civil society organizations, research centres, and media stakeholders, actively contributed to ensuring a comprehensive, inclusive, and multi-stakeholder approach.
Timeline of Engagements:
- Inception Workshop (20 June 2025): The workshop brought together government institutions, regulators, and key stakeholders to launch Tanzania’s National Electronic Data Governance Strategy development, align on methodology, and discuss priorities for eData management.
- Country Assessment and Capacity Building Workshop (26–27 August 2025): A mission in Dodoma, analyzed Tanzania’s electronic data governance landscape, including legal frameworks, institutional coordination, data management practices, digital infrastructure readiness, interoperability, and data protection mechanisms. The assessment identified strengths, gaps, and priority reforms, providing evidence to guide the National Electronic Data Governance Strategy.
- Stakeholder Engagement Workshop (29 August 2025): An inclusive workshop in Dar es Salaam with 101 participants from diverse sectors examined data governance challenges, institutional coordination needs, and opportunities to strengthen electronic data systems. Insights gathered ensured the strategy reflects national priorities, socio-economic realities, and provides concrete inputs for refining objectives and implementation pathways.
- Strategy Validation Workshop (12 March 2026): Convened in Dodoma, the workshop marked a critical milestone in consolidating Tanzania’s Electronic Data Governance Strategy, bringing together government, regional, and international partners to review, refine, and endorse the draft. The session focused on validating the strategy’s pillars, implementation architecture, and results framework, while incorporating targeted stakeholder feedback to ensure the final document is coherent, nationally owned, and ready for submission toward formal adoption.
Initiative Outcomes
- A comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of Tanzania’s electronic data governance landscape, providing a clear diagnostics methodology.
- An inclusive, context-driven National Electronic Data Governance Strategy that reflects national priorities, aligns with continental frameworks, and provides a coherent roadmap for implementation.
- Strengthened institutional and technical capacities among government officials and stakeholders in key areas of data governance, including policy design, data management, interoperability, and regulatory frameworks.
Document
- Capacity Building Workshop Programme
- Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Agenda
- Draft Agenda Validation Workshop
Relevant Continental Frameworks
