African ICT Leaders Develop Data Governance Strategies

More than 50 senior ICT policymakers, regulators, and industry representatives from 23 African countries participated in a workshop held in Conakry, Guinea, on November 12, 2025. The event was organized by Smart Africa and UNESCO and focused on data governance challenges.

The workshop was part of the 7th Transform Africa Summit and aimed to address legal, technical, and institutional gaps in data governance as African nations pursue digital transformation.

Workshop Focus and Objectives

The workshop, titled Data Governance in the Digital Age: From Principle to Practice, sought to strengthen inclusive, rights-based data governance tailored to African realities. It built upon the Broadband Commission Data Governance Toolkit launched by UNESCO, UNDP, ITU, the African Union, and Smart Africa. The session prioritized practical guidance for policymakers, regulators, and practitioners to translate data governance principles into national and regional action.

Discussion Topics and Frameworks

Participants used the Smart Africa Data Governance Blueprint, the AU Data Policy Framework, and country case studies as reference points. Discussions centered on practical pathways for national implementation and regional alignment. The 4P framework (purpose, principles, people, processes) from the Data Governance Toolkit was introduced, and participants assessed their countries’ data-governance maturity and identified priority challenges. The session facilitated peer learning and the exchange of ideas among attendees.

Identified Challenges

A pre-workshop questionnaire revealed that many African countries continue to face significant barriers to effective data governance. These include insufficient legal and regulatory frameworks and limited technical capacity for data management and sharing. These findings align with the results of UNESCO’s global consultation with over 200 stakeholders from more than 56 countries, which informed the development of the Data Governance Toolkit.