Bujumbura, Burundi – 7 November 2025 (ECA) – The Government of the Republic of Burundi officially validated its first National Data Governance Strategy at a high-level workshop in Bujumbura, with over 60 delegates participating. This validation marks the culmination of a participatory and collaborative process, co-led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), under the "Data Governance in Africa" initiative.
The initiative supports the domestication and implementation of the African Union Data Policy Framework, reinforcing targeted Member States’ commitment to building a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital ecosystem.
The formulation of Burundi's National Data Governance Strategy is a model of inclusive and evidence-based policymaking, systematically co-created from the ground up. This deliberate journey began with broad-spectrum consultations, engaging the full ecosystem of stakeholders from government ministries and regulatory bodies to private sector innovators, academia, and civil society. A comprehensive, data-driven diagnostic was presented back to these groups in a restitution workshop, allowing for collective validation of the nation's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This process, grounded in shared responsibility, ethics, and institutional effectiveness, resulted in the validated, robust strategy tailored to address the specific needs of Burundians, mainly around seven strategic pillars:
- 1. Governance & Leadership
- 2. Legal & Regulatory Framework
- 3. Data Management, Quality & Interoperability
- 4. Infrastructure, Sharing & Access
- 5. Security & Personal Data Protection
- 6. Capacity Development & Data Culture
- 7. Data Economy & Innovation
The strategy, transformed from vision to validation, is now set for a coordinated and inclusive implementation by all stakeholders. Presiding over the event, Madame Francine Inarukundo, Vice-Minister of Finance, Budget and Digital Economy, called it "a historic moment for the digital sovereignty of Burundi." The strategy establishes a clear national vision, "to make data a strategic public good at the service of transparency, innovation, and sustainable development." Madame Inarukundo confirmed the strategy is fully aligned with the continental frameworks and Burundi's national Vision 2040-2060, and outlined clear next steps, including a national committee establishment and a three-year action plan to operationalize its vision.
As a key implementing partner that provided technical assistance and expertise, ECA's Mr. Mactar Seck, Chief of the Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation, and Digital Transformation Section, framed the validation as "a significant step forward through open communication, collaboration to meet challenges, and building a common vision". He emphasized that the focus must shift to the critical socio-technical elements of implementation.
"Effective implementation requires strengthening the data culture within public and private institutions and promoting responsible and ethical information management," Mr. Seck stated, noting the vital importance of protecting personal data in line with international standards. He elaborated that success will be built on "continuous training programs, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation systems" and through "participating actively in regional initiatives to strengthen Burundi’s position within Africa’s digital ecosystem."
Underscoring this commitment, ECA co-led a foundational capacity-building workshop earlier in the week for close to 50 national stakeholders. The workshop was designed to enhance the operational readiness of Burundi's institutions, demonstrating ECA's investment in the country's ability to move swiftly from strategy to implementation.
The initiative's key partners, alongside ECA, including the AUC, GIZ, AUDA-NEPAD, and the European Union, at the workshop collectively reaffirmed their full commitment to supporting Burundi in the crucial implementation phase that lies ahead. This unified partner support is anchored in the nation's leadership, which Mr. Paul Kithinji, Data Policy Advisor for GIZ–African Union, commended as a "phenomenal coordination and collaboration" that was essential in co-creating this context-sensitive, nationally-owned strategy.
Speaking on behalf of AUDA-NEPAD, Senior Policy Analyst Ms. Christelle Onnana said, "This validation of the national data strategy is not an end, but the beginning of an ambitious process, full of hope and progress. The African Union Development Agency is and will be at your side to support this march towards excellence and African integration."
This milestone in Burundi affirms the Commission's core belief that data is a fundamental driver of transformation. “The rigorous, evidence-based process validated here serves as a powerful blueprint for other member states seeking to domesticate the AU Data Policy Framework,” stresses Mr Seck.
These national initiatives are essential to maximize the opportunities offered by sound data governance and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. ECA remains steadfast in its mission to assist all its member states in using these new tools to build an equitable and prosperous digital Africa.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org