ECA Supporting the Republic of the Congo in Shaping a National Data Governance Strategy for Digital Sovereignty and Innovation

Background

As African countries accelerate their digital transformation agendas, effective data governance has become increasingly important for strengthening digital sovereignty, improving public service delivery, fostering innovation, and enabling trusted digital economies. While significant progress has been made across the continent in developing digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, many countries continue to face challenges related to data governance, including fragmented institutional arrangements, limited interoperability, inadequate technical capacities, and evolving cybersecurity risks.

Continental frameworks such as the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), the African Union Data Policy Framework (AUDPF), and the Malabo Convention provide important guidance for Member States seeking to establish trusted, secure, and inclusive data ecosystems. However, translating these frameworks into national policies and operational systems requires country-specific assessments, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity strengthening.

Through the Data Governance in Africa initiative, implemented with the support of GIZ and the European Union, ECA supports African countries in assessing their data governance landscapes and developing national strategies aligned with continental priorities and national development objectives.

Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo has made notable progress in advancing its digital transformation agenda through the adoption of digital legislation, the establishment of institutions responsible for cybersecurity, telecommunications regulation, and digital development, and the implementation of initiatives under the Vision Congo Digital framework.

Despite these advances, a recent self-assessment identified important gaps in the country's data governance ecosystem, including the absence of an integrated national data governance strategy, limited interoperability frameworks, insufficient technical standards, capacity constraints, and fragmented institutional coordination. The assessment also highlighted opportunities to strengthen digital trust, improve data-sharing mechanisms, enhance cybersecurity, and promote data-driven innovation and economic value creation.

To support the development of a National Data Governance Strategy, ECA and its partners are undertaking a series of engagements from 2 to 9 June 2026 comprising three complementary components:

• National Data Governance Assessment and Stakeholder Consultations (2–6 June 2026): consultations with public institutions, regulatory authorities, telecommunications operators, financial institutions, universities, digital economy actors, and strategic infrastructure providers in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire to assess the current state of data governance and identify national priorities.

• Stakeholder Engagement Workshop (8 June 2026): a multi-stakeholder dialogue to review consultation findings, identify strategic priorities, validate recommendations, and support the co-creation of the National Data Governance Strategy.

• Capacity-Building Session (9 June 2026): targeted training for policymakers and stakeholders on data governance principles, trusted data ecosystems, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, data protection, interoperability, and emerging issues related to artificial intelligence and digital governance.

The initiative is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy and will engage a broad range of actors from government, regulatory agencies, academia, civil society, development partners, and the private sector.

Participating institutions include agencies responsible for telecommunications regulation, cybersecurity, statistics, digital economy development, public administration, customs, taxation, social protection, education, finance, and health. The consultations will also involve telecommunications operators, financial institutions, technology companies, universities, research institutions, and key economic actors from Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.

Objectives

Assess the Republic of the Congo’s current data governance landscape, including legal, institutional, technical, and operational dimensions.
Identify national priorities, challenges, and opportunities for data governance reform.
Strengthen stakeholder awareness and understanding of African and international data governance frameworks.
Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue to support the development of an inclusive and context-specific National Data Governance Strategy.
Promote institutional coordination and trusted mechanisms for data sharing, cybersecurity, interoperability, and digital trust.
Support alignment with the AU Data Policy Framework, the Malabo Convention, and other relevant continental digital governance instruments.

Expected Outcomes

A comprehensive assessment of the Republic of the Congo’s data governance ecosystem.
Stakeholder-validated priorities and recommendations for the National Data Governance Strategy.
Enhanced institutional capacities on data governance and related policy areas.
Strengthened collaboration among government institutions, private sector actors, academia, civil society organizations, and development partners.
A foundation for the development of a coherent, secure, interoperable, and value-driven national data governance framework.

Documents

Relevant Continental Frameworks