Data Governance Capacity Building for African Policymakers

Welcome to Data Governance Capacity Building for African Policymakers!

Data is Africa's fastest-growing strategic asset - yet the frameworks, institutions, and skills needed to govern it effectively remain uneven across the continent. This course addresses that gap directly. Drawing on the AU Data Policy Framework, the Malabo Convention, Agenda 2063, and the governance experience of countries from Morocco to Mozambique, it equips senior officials to design, implement, and evaluate data governance systems that serve their citizens and their economies.

Five modules cover: the foundational concepts of data governance; the continental and global policy instruments every African policymaker needs to know; the key governance approaches available for policy design; the Digital Public Infrastructure and maturity frameworks that make governance real; and the emerging issues - from AI algorithmic bias to data rights - that will define the next decade of policymaking. Each module includes at least one signature interactive exercise and a practical brain teaser scenario.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the core concepts of data governance, including data sovereignty, data as a public good, and the distinction between personal and non-personal data.
• Identify key continental and global policy instruments, including the AU Data Policy Framework, Malabo Convention, and Agenda 2063, and apply them to national policy arguments.
• Analyse the trade-offs between data sovereignty, localisation, open data, and cross-border data flows in designing national policy.
• Apply the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) stack model and interoperability frameworks to assess and improve national governance readiness.
• Evaluate emerging risks from AI-driven public services, including algorithmic bias, data quality failures, and the need for human oversight mechanisms.
• Recommend evidence-based positions for national and regional data governance discussions, including at continental and global forums.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for senior policymakers, ministry officials, regulators, and public sector leaders across Africa who are responsible for digital strategy, data regulation, or government data systems. It is also valuable for:

• Staff of regional economic communities working on continental data governance harmonisation.
• Senior civil servants involved in AI procurement, DPI investment decisions, or data sharing agreements.
• Officials preparing for representation at international data governance forums or treaty negotiations.