The African Data Economy: Measurement, Policies, and Guidelines

Welcome to your course on The African Data Economy!

This course is designed for policymakers, regulators, and technical leaders who want to grow and govern Africa's data economy. Most national data strategies stall not because the ambition is wrong, but because the data economy is never measured, so investment is guided by intuition and a single headline figure rather than evidence. This course flips that around: it teaches you to define what the data economy is, measure it consistently, and build the legal and technical infrastructure that lets data create value at home.

The curriculum introduces the three-scope model that separates the data economy from the broader digital economy, the EU Data Market Study measurement dimensions of supply, demand, skills, and business indicators, the open data formats and licensing that make data interoperable and reusable, and a six-step approach to Pan-African regulatory framework development. It is grounded in the African Union Data Policy Framework, the Malabo Convention, and national experiences from across the continent.

By mastering these concepts, you will be equipped to measure your own data economy, open and govern data responsibly, and develop the regulatory frameworks that turn data into a lasting source of value for your country.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Distinguish the data economy from the broader digital economy using the three-scope model.
• Measure the data economy using the supply, demand, skills, and business dimensions of the EU Data Market Study.
• Compare open data formats and licensing options and apply interoperability standards to make data reusable.
• Develop a Pan-African regulatory framework covering registration, processing, and complaints.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for policymakers, regulators, and technical leaders working on data and the digital economy across Africa. It is highly beneficial for individuals who are:

• Responsible for national data strategy, digital economy policy, or data regulation.
• Involved in measuring, opening, or governing public and private data.
• Seeking to capture more of the value that citizens' data generates for the local economy.