Data governance is poised to take center stage at the Data Governance and Innovation Forum in Africa scheduled to take place in from 17^th -18^th November 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The pioneering event, slated as a two-day pre-event whose outcomes will be considered in the upcoming 5^th edition of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee Meeting on Communication and ICT (STC-CICT) will converge leaders from public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to champion the strategic role of data in shaping a vibrant digital economy and society across the African continent.

The Forum seeks to fast-track the implementation of the African Union Data Policy Framework fostering a responsible secure and innovative use of data to propel an inclusive digital transformation in Africa. The adoption of Data Policy Framework at the African Union Summit in February 2022 marked a monumental leap toward establishing a unified data market and standardized data governance systems in Africa.

The two-day Data Governance and Innovation Forum will explore and address several crucial areas within Data Innovation including: 

• Promoting the Data Policy Framework by sharing updates on its implementation, addressing challenges, and exploring opportunities.
• Raise awareness among policymakers regarding the central role of data in driving a digital economy and society, while also highlighting the implications of data usage on privacy and security.
• Facilitating peer-to-peer exchange at a multi-stakeholder level is a key strategy, fostering collaboration amongst African countries and stakeholders. This involves sharing best practices, lessons learned, and promoting collaborative approaches for successful Data Policy Framework implementation and policy formulation.
• Steering concrete action by creating opportunities for scaling data-driven innovative solutions and producing a comprehensive Forum Report summarizing key session outcomes.

The forum is organized in by the African Union Commission in collaboration with GIZ, as a platform that provides multi-stakeholder discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about new and innovative approaches on data governance practices and innovative data policies and regulations. The forum is key to raise awareness of African policymakers and decision makers on the Data Policy Framework and actions to accelerate its implementation and domestication at the national level. The

Forum will help to build partnerships and facilitate resource mobilization and contribute to the effective engagement of relevant stakeholders involved in the development of relevant African data ecosystems.

Details and updates is available on https://au.int/en/5thstccict

For more information:

Ms. Bezayit Eyoel| Department of Infrastructure and Energy| African Union Commission| Mobile:  +251913223288 | E-mail: BezayitE@africa-union.org|

Ms. Doreen Apollos | Communication | Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | E-mail ApollosD@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org 
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