Allexer Namundjembo
A new research project has been launched to rethink data governance in Africa.
The six-month project, led by Mozilla Foundation senior fellow Kiito Shilongo, brings together four researchers from across the continent.
It is supported by the Mozilla Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Launched in June 2025, the project investigates how data is collected, used, and protected in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and Eswatini.
It aims to provide practical recommendations that can shape national policies and improve digital rights, privacy, and innovation.
“This is not about copying models from elsewhere. It’s about building from the ground up, using our own experiences and community knowledge,” said Shilongo in a recent press release.
The initiative follows the African Union’s 2022 adoption of the AU data policy framework.
Many member states are now rolling out national data laws based on international standards, but questions remain about how well these laws reflect local needs and protect individual rights.
In Ghana, researcher Mardiya Siba Yahaya is examining how women entrepreneurs in informal markets use digital tools.
Her work focuses on data use in small businesses and how inclusive innovation can drive economic development.
“These markets are rich in information. Our goal is to ensure data policies reflect the real-life experiences of those working in these spaces,” she said.
In Eswatini and Zambia, digital rights expert Emsie Erastus is studying how both countries manage personal data.
In Zambia, her research looks at how regulators balance public and private interests. In Eswatini, she is examining how commercial goals affect human rights.
In Nigeria, legal researcher Solomon Okedara is focusing on enforcement gaps in data protection.
His findings show a trend where private companies are monitored, but government institutions avoid accountability.
“For a just digital future, data protection must apply to all. Regulatory independence is critical,” said Okedara.
In Kenya, Mary Gichuki is exploring how consistent data policies could unlock value in the digital economy. Her research focuses on the financial sector and how policy gaps may affect growth.
The project is rooted in local experiences and seeks to influence national and continental data strategies.
An advocacy campaign will follow the research to reach policymakers, civil society, and the public.
The researchers aim to ensure that Africa’s digital future is guided by fair, transparent, and inclusive rules. Their work is expected to support reforms that protect rights, support innovation, and meet the needs of African communities.
