AU begins talks on cross-border continental data sharing regulations
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union Commission (AUC) officially launched a crucial four-day Validation Workshop for the Continental Data Governance Frameworks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.
The workshop brings together experts from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and key partners to review and finalize the draft frameworks on Data Categorisation and Data Sharing, Cross-Border Data Flows, and the Continental Open Data Strategy.
The validation taking place from 1-4 December, marks a major milestone in the implementation of the AU Data Policy Framework (AUDPF), accelerating the continent's journey toward establishing a secured Digital Single Market (DSM) by 2030, as envisioned in the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (DTS).
In her opening remarks, Souhila Amazouz, Officer in Charge of the Information Society Division at the AUC, underscored the central role of data in Africa's future development.
“Data is not just a resource; it is the bedrock of Africa’s digital transformation and economic future,” stated Ms. Amazouz.
“This workshop could not have come at a better time, ensuring we collectively develop the adequate frameworks and instruments to responsibly, safely, and ethically use data to achieve fair and inclusive representation in digital space and ensure economic benefit for all Africans.”
For Africa, remarkable opportunities can arise from the ongoing digital transformation, technological innovation and operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as it can create a Data Centre Market of an estimated size of US$ 3.85 billion by 2030.
The Draft Data Categorization, Open Data and Cross Border Data Flow Frameworks provide the essential legal and technical tools to harmonise data policies across the continent, while balancing the need for data protection and security with the immense value creation potential of cross-border data exchange.
The documents under validation are crafted to address the persistent fragmentation of digital regulations across the continent and to strengthen Africa’s capacity to govern, share, and utilise data effectively. Together, they aim to build a coherent, trusted, and future-ready ecosystem that supports innovation, protects citizens, and enables data-driven development.
At the core of this work are three key frameworks. The Data Categorisation and Sharing Framework establishes common standards to safeguard sensitive and critical data while enabling responsible access and use for innovation and public benefit. The Cross-Border Data Flow Framework proposes collaborative trust mechanisms that allow data to move securely and seamlessly across Member States, reinforcing the ambitions of the AfCFTA and accelerating digital trade.
Complementing these is the Open Data Strategy, which guides Member States in building transparent, efficient, and innovation-friendly public data systems that unlock new economic and social value and make data available to support the development of deployment advance Artificial Intelligence in Africa.
According to Souhila, the availability of data, the youth dividend and rapid technology adoption makes the continent a fertile ground for innovation with the potential to contribute up to US$712 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030.
The endorsement of the AU Data Policy Framework by the AU Executive Council in February 2022 shows the political will and collective commitment of our countries to responsibly embrace the data revolution and enable data to flow on the continent.
The workshop is being held with support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, under the Data Governance in Africa Initiative jointly implemented by AUC Team, the AU Development Agency- New Partnerships for Africa's Development (AUDA- NEPAD) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
During the opening session, Dr. Tobias Thiel, Director of the GIZ Office to the African Union, reaffirmed the commitment to the joint vision: “The frameworks we are validating this week are essential building blocks towards a trusted, interoperable, and rights-respecting African data ecosystem. We are committed to supporting the African Union in establishing common standards and promoting Open Data as a true driver of socio-economic value for the continent.”
The outcomes of this validation workshop will inform the finalisation and eventual submission of these pivotal frameworks to the relevant AU policy organs for adoption.
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