Data Governance in Africa
Project objectives
With the Data Governance in Africa initiative, the EU and its Member States provide support to the African Union and its Regional Economic Communities and Member States to leverage the potential of the data economy while avoiding the misuse of data and potential fragmentation of data markets.
Working together as members of Team Europe, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and GIZ, the German development cooperation agency, have signed a grant agreement to support the development of a fair and inclusive data economy and society in sub-Saharan Africa as part of the EU Global Gateway Strategy in collaboration with the African Union.
The Data Governance in Africa Initiative has been made possible by financial support from the European Union and five EU Member States (Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, and Germany) as part of the EU Global Gateway Strategy. It will be implemented by Digital Africa, Enabel, ESTDEV, HAUS, Expertise France and GIZ.
Actions and results
ESTDEV’s efforts in this project are organized into two main areas:
- Supporting Digital Social Innovation (DSI): In the framework of this initiative, ESTDEV aims to scale up the creation and use of data-driven digital social innovations (DSI) and ensure they meet the needs of disadvantaged groups at the grassroots level. This goal is achieved by enhancing the capabilities of local innovators and expanding their access to funding opportunities for growth and development. To this end, ESTDEV and HAUS, the Finnish Institute of Public Management, have organized a joint call for proposals targeting data-driven startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Capacity Building for Data Value Creation: In partnership with GIZ, ESTDEV aims to strengthen the ability of regional and national institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and both public and private sector entities to access, analyze, use, and share data effectively. This initiative supports sustainable development by equipping participants with essential skills in data value creation, promoting ownership, and empowering stakeholders to achieve long-term development objectives. The programme includes a structured approach with self-paced e-learning courses, webinars, regional workshops, and targeted training activities. Participants gain knowledge and resources to improve their data governance practices, advance their data-related skills, exchange best practices, and explore data-driven use cases and regulatory innovations. This comprehensive programme supports the development of Africa’s data economy and contributes to building a robust data-driven foundation for sustainable growth.
Contacts
