17 October 2022 – United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) delivered a two-day Capacity Development and Consultation Workshop on National Data Governance Framework 17 – 18 October in Addis Ababa. The workshop availed a consultative platform to explore issues of national data governance priorities and policies in Ethiopia.
The initiative is supported by UNECA and in alignment with the commission’s effort to facilitate Member States’ wider consultations on cybersecurity guidelines and digital transformation plans. Experts had a chance to reflect on Ethiopia’s national data governance policies in relation to elements such as digital identity, e-trade, and cybersecurity; areas that ECA is keen to further develop.
The increasing importance of developing institutional capacities for digital data management and cooperation toward sustainable development goals was highlighted. During her opening remark, H.E Minister Huria Ali, Ministry of Innovation and Technology - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia said, ‘the need for effective data management and data governance in Ethiopia has gained new urgency’. Further alluding to some of the challenges posed in the sector, the Minister added ‘Digital divides, security, privacy, and ethical issues are major concerns, while digital and data literacy remain insufficient in many areas across different agencies and levels of government’.
Juwang Zhu, Director of Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government at UNDESA highlighted the importance of widening discussions around national data governance frameworks, mentioning: ‘Not only is there a need for data classification and data standards to facilitate data use, reuse and exchange but to also inform, data risk and security management, legal and regulatory compliance processes, and help improve productivity and decision-making while respecting personal data privacy’.
The workshop gathered national government stakeholders and experts from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, UN agencies including the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and private sector participants that have demonstrated experience in supporting public sector innovation.
Working sessions explored baseline studies and situational analysis of institutional as well as collective efforts being made toward developing digital data policies and strategies while ensuring data quality, security, and privacy. Widening the inclusive engagement of stakeholders, including academia, civil society, and the private sector was highlighted as a means for ensuring ‘a whole-of-government approach’ towards enabling an effective national data governance framework.
For more information:
https://publicadministration.un.org/en/Research/UN-e-Government-Surveys
Media contacts:
Wai Min Kwok, kwok@un.org
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Mactar Seck, seck8@un.org
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)