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 data is processed outside Africa, limiting its potential to drive domestic innovation, economic growth, and evidence-based policymaking. The current data governance landscape in Africa remains fragmented, with varying levels of regulatory maturity, leaving many countries vulnerable to privacy violations, data misuse, and cyber threats.
Recognizing these challenges, continental instruments such as the African Union (AU) Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), the AU Data Policy Framework (AUDPF), and the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection provide guiding principles for Member States to develop coherent and secure data ecosystems. However, the effective domestication and implementation of these frameworks at the national level require dedicated efforts, institutional coordination, and sustained capacity-building.
In this context, the Technology, Innovation, Connectivity, and Infrastructure Division (TICID) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) plays a pivotal role in strengthening Member States’ institutional and technical capacities to localize and operationalize these frameworks. Through the Data Governance in Africa (DataCipation) initiative, implemented with the support of GIZ and the European Union, ECA supports African countries in assessing their data governance ecosystems, designing national strategies, and developing inclusive and actionable implementation roadmaps.