Data Governance Team Europe Initiative Puts Heads Together to Enhance Data Economy in Partnership with the African Union

As the African continent becomes more tech-savvy, the need and opportunity for data solutions increases. With most of Africa’s data hosted outside the continent, its digital independence is feeble. Such independent, well-structured markets will allow data to flow across borders in Africa, all while protecting personal data and strengthening a united approach to data regulation.

Jean-Baptiste Petigny, an advisor to Expertise France in the implementation of digital projects, summed up the aims of the project: “To put it shortly, this initiative is looking at improving the data environment across the African continent in three different ways. The first level would be in regulation of and policies related to data. The second segment would be, in more practical terms, how to increase the use of data throughout the continent by private and public actions. And the third level would be how to improve the quality of infrastructure surrounding data and throughout the African continent.”

Data can revolutionise livelihoods if people are open to it

But a large scale data economy does not simply evolve overnight. It takes expert coordination and intentional action from all stakeholders. Data coordination has the potential to revolutionise the livelihoods of citizens in many areas; however, people have to first be open to data innovations, and this can be tricky. “In Kenya, for instance, we are currently supporting a framework for agricultural data sharing. To do concrete projects in the country, you have to use cases that lead by example to demonstrate what can be done through data,” shared Björn-Sören Gigler, program leader for data economy development at GIZ.

Connecting those who wish to expand their organisations, companies, and opportunities using data-based solutions is a growing need, and the Data Governance Team Europe Initiative is ready to support. Maxime Heyndryckx, Belgian Enable’s digital development expert, advocates that the cooperation between European and African partners is crucial to create a foundational data governance framework: “The amount of data that’s being generated every day is astonishing, and the amount of companies and organisations that work with big data is increasing. And of course, when there’s more data there are on one hand more opportunities, but there are also more risks. So we need to make sure that when we work together with our African partners. We can share good practices, share lessons learned and what we have done on our side regarding the governance of data, and also use data to stimulate economic development while mitigating the risks that are of course involved.”

“I think these questions are now very timely and topical,” stated Silja Leinonen, senior advisor for innovation and digital development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland. “The AU has its own data policy framework, and the EU is excelling in these issues in its own internal market. Strengthening cooperation in these questions is very important in order to build knowledge exchange and cooperation in the years to come.” If done properly, she says, these projects will support a fair and equitable data economy in Africa. Indeed, increasing trust in the safety and security of data centres and other digital infrastructure would also likely facilitate their uptake and support other areas of growth in the data economy.

Coming together for Team Europe

Last week’s workshop focused largely on the concerns of data misuse, the fragmentation of data markets, minorities’ and women’s access to data, and Africa’s data sovereignty. A partnership between the EU and the AU is a mutually beneficial solution for creating effective data systems. These systems have the potential to progress gender equality, unify markets, and find green solutions. Where policies succeed in supporting data-driven innovation, results may not only include job creation and economic growth for all, but naturally increase people’s participation, and transparency and accountability in public service delivery. Petigny remarked, “It only makes sense that the European Union and the African Union move actually in parallel, in becoming more active in their regulatory frameworks and it only makes sense that as part of the wider EU-AU partnership, this is becoming an increasingly important aspect.” With plans for such a framework forthcoming, Team Europe looks forward to moving forward collaboratively with AU partners.

Andres Ääremaa, program manager for digital transformation at ESTDEV, put it best: “We are doing this project for Africa. That means that we are doing this with our African partners. Of course this is not one way traffic we are talking about here. It’s two-directional. We are supporting African countries and African governments, but at the same time, it’s their own role, their own responsibilities. We are not taking away their freedom to make decisions, but we are there to help them to understand what could be the benefits for them of leveraging the data economy.”

Participants of the workshop left in high spirits, ready for the next step in the initiative. “Really coming together as one team, putting the national interest aside and really coming together as one Team Europe. That’s great,” said Gigler.

Ääremaa remarked, “I can’t find the words of how happy I am to be able to participate in this Team Europe project, and to be able to really feel the real European spirit when representatives from different member states gather together to really find the best solutions for African countries.”