"This desk review report provides an overview of data governance in Africa, exploring policy frameworks, implementation challenges, regional collaborations, capacity building, governmental initiatives, civil society engagement, and academia's role. The continent's increasing reliance on digital syst
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ems has spurred a surge in data production, necessitating robust governance frameworks. While progress is evident with the enactment of data protection laws and establishment of regulatory bodies, implementation challenges persist due to resource constraints and political complexities.
Regional collaborations within Africa, particularly among East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), manifest a collective recognition of the importance of data governance. These collaborations offer guidance and promote policy enactments, shaping data protection laws and enhancing responsible data practices across member states.
Amidst the evolving data governance landscape, capacity building emerges as a critical aspect, spotlighting the need for nurturing skills in data management, analysis, and ethics. Challenges within educational infrastructure and workforce training gaps present barriers in fostering a skilled workforce capable of effective data governance practices.
Initiatives on data governance take on several forms notably through government endeavours such as the implementation of pivotal systems like the Health Management Information System, Integrated Revenue Administration System and Labour Market Information System among others. Furthermore, Civil Society Initiatives, including efforts from various organisations advocating for data privacy and open data, and initiatives in academia, such as Education Management Information Systems, significantly contribute to advancing ethical data practices and transparent data access." (Executive summary)
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"This volume highlights some of the alternative models that have originated in two major Asian democracies, India and South Korea. It compares these two countries’ distinctive approaches through case studies that demonstrate just how much more complex the world will be than the common-place predic
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tion of a battle between U.S.- and Chinese-centric approaches." (Introduction, page 2)
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"The fifth edition of the AI Index Report includes data from a broad set of academic, private, and nonprofit organizations as well as more self-collected data and original analysis than any previous editions, including an expanded technical performance chapter, a new survey of robotics researchers a
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round the world, data on global AI legislation records in 25 countries, and a new chapter with an in-depth analysis of technical AI ethics metrics." (Introduction, page 2)
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"Internet access is exploding around the world. In the 10 years up to 2021, the proportion of people around the world with access to the internet grew from 33 to 63%, and by 2022 the number of active social media users hit 4.62 billion. Policymakers and opinion formers have an opportunity to tap int
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o the wealth of digital media intelligence that is created and to use that intelligence to advance a sustainable development agenda. But like any research practice, gathering digital media intelligence has its challenges. In this briefing we describe some of the pitfalls and how to avoid them, drawing on examples from a partnership between IIED and Marble Global, a digital research consultancy that works with organisations seeking to affect positive change." (Page 1)
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"The goal of this Data Governance Toolkit is to guide non-profit organizations through the steps and best practices for implementing Data Governance within your organization, while keeping in mind the changing organization IT landscape, enterprise architecture and program deliverables. To support or
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ganizations, reach their goal of capacity building in Data and Analysis, this toolkit guides you through a Framework to implementing Data Governance that includes template policies, roles, roadmaps and KPIs." (Purpose of this toolkit, page 3)
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"Die neuen sozio-technischen Verhältnisse der digitalen Transformation fordern neuzeitliche Konzepte des »souveränen Staates« und des »souveränen Subjekts« heraus, was in Debatten um »digitale Souveränität« problematisiert wird. Die Beiträger*innen des Bandes diskutieren diese Herausford
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erungen für zentrale gesellschaftliche Teilbereiche (u.a. Recht, Politik, Wirtschaft, Technik und Ethik) und tragen damit zu einer Systematisierung und Anreicherung der öffentlichen und wissenschaftlichen Diskussion bei. Zentrale Bruchlinien sind dabei neben Souveränitätskonzepten auch die Selbst- und Fremdbestimmung sowie der Umgang mit Daten." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Data governance is an integral aspect of digital authoritarianism because it incorporates any type of control, authority, and manipulation of data […]. Within the context of digital authoritarianism, data governance may incorporate both states and non-state actors that collaborate with states to
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facilitate their control over the data sources. This section analyses data governance in the context of its relationship to digital authoritarianism. Among the various facets of the topic, it concentrates mainly on surveillance, privacy, and digital methods of transnational repression that the states use to intimidate and silence their anti-regime activists abroad." (Data Governance, page 3)
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"This paper discusses whether data trusts are feasible structures in an African context, concluding that there are significant limitations to a straight import of trust models developed elsewhere. It goes on to outline specific considerations that should be prioritised in the development of bottom u
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p and collective models of data governance on the continent, whether adopting a formal trust structure or not. This is done through a brief overview of data trusts and looking at data rights in Africa with particular focus on South Africa's data protection law. The paper then delves into the contentions of a Global South and Global North approach by highlighting the limitations of data trusts in an African context. It argues that the development of data trusts could still offer critical benefits especially when informed by African values and historical contexts. Making use of international instruments (Banjul Charter), principles (CARE) and values (Ubuntu), the paper emphasises the importance of collective decision-making relating to data and concludes with recommendations on collective and participatory governance, women's empowerment and capacity-building, to highlight how the alignment of data trusts to African contexts could help balance historical power differentials in the digital age." (Page 2)
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"The EU dreams of a “common European data space”. Data protection is and remains the elephant in this data room. So long as the anti-processing straitjacket of the GDPR is not loosened even a little for altruistic purposes, there will be little hope for data innovations from Europe. In any case,
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the EU’s bureaucratic ideas threaten to stifle any altruism." (Conclusion)
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"This report aims to answer two fundamental questions. First, how can data better advance development objectives? Second, what kind of data governance arrangements are needed to support the generation and use of data in a safe, ethical, and secure way while also delivering value equitably? One impor
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tant message of this report is that simply gathering more data is not the answer. Significant data shortfalls, particularly in poor countries, do exist, but the aim of this report is to shift the focus toward using data more effectively to improve development outcomes, particularly for poor people in poor countries." (Overview, page 3)
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"On the one hand, “Free Flow of Data” is advocated by many as a critical enabler of digital transformation, innovation, economic growth and social benefits. At the same time, various concerns related to privacy, taxation, competition, security, and even the democratic process, have prompted poli
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cy initiatives invoking the notion of “Data Sovereignty”. “Free flow” and “sovereignty” are terms which strongly resonate with policy-makers, businesses and even citizens. Their coupling with the word data too often generates visceral reactions and intense exchanges devoid of nuance, in a context of heated debates about the impacts of digitalization and growing geopolitical tensions. The diversity of sectoral silos where discussions are conducted worsens the situation and makes solutions even harder to find. This framing report seeks to unpack these two polarizing expressions to better understand actors’ perspectives, and shift the debate towards reconciling apparently conflicting approaches. The goal is not to provide a comprehensive overview of all the issues and stakeholder views, but to offer a holistic snapshot of the concerns and prominent perspectives to kick-start further debate. The report is organized in three self-explanatory parts: Data, Free Flows of Data, and Data Sovereignty. It concludes, in Moving Forward, with a call to reframe the discussion, harness emerging innovative approaches, and engage in a much needed global, multistakeholder and cross-sectoral debate." (Introduction)
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"• Data impact assessments determine the potential benefits and risks associated with data management. They are a critical component of responsible data management, but are often overlooked.
• There are a wide variety of approaches to data impact assessments. Selecting the right assessment for a
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given data management activity can minimise the risk and maximise the benefit to affected people, humanitarians and other stakeholders.
• Applicable laws and regulations, internal policies, the context in which data management will take place and other factors determine which assessment(s) should be applied to a data management activity.
• Data impact assessments should be conducted before and during data management activities in order to inform project planning and design. Activities should be redesigned or cancelled if the foreseeable risks of data management outweigh the intended benefits." (Key takeaways)
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