The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) is a non-profit think tank that conducts independent, high quality and evidence-based research on economic and development issues in Africa. CSEA also serves as a forum for high-level debates and policy dialogue with key stakeholders from the private sector, government, academia, and civil society in Africa.
The Datasphere Initiative is pleased to announce a partnership with CSEA as both organizations seek to explore how data governance is evolving across Africa and support policymakers in the region in developing innovative and responsible data-sharing practices.
CSEA has been organizing a range of initiatives on measuring Africa’s level of digital development holistically and mapping data protection legislation as well as policy considerations for cross-border data flows, most notably regarding the Africa Free Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade. The Centre’s research aims to facilitate the development of a regional approach to data governance and fast-track the budding steps toward digitalization in Africa.
In 2023 the Datasphere Initiative will launch an Africa Forum on Sandboxes for Data in an effort to build a pan-African community to enable innovative cross-border data governance solutions. The multistakeholder process will invite local, regional, and global experts, including CSEA, to explore the ways in which regulatory and operational sandboxes could facilitate responsible data flows and exchange.
“All that we have achieved, and we will achieve in the data governance space and by extension every sphere of development research have been built on partnership and collaboration with other players within the ecosystem. CSEA is pleased that the Datasphere Initiative is building the type of partnership that can deliver progress and ensure an inclusive data transformation for Africa” said Adedeji Adeniran, Director of Research, CSEA.
