Smart Africa supports Eswatini in developing National Data Policy
Date: 2026-05-04
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Smart Africa is supporting the Kingdom of Eswatini in the development of its National Data
Policy through a high-level workshop held in Mbabane.
The workshop brought together government officials,
policymakers, and key stakeholders to advance an inclusive policy framework
aligned with national priorities. It was officially opened by Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information,
Communications and Technology.
The initiative forms part of the European
Union–African Union Data Governance in Africa programme, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(GIZ) under the DataCipation initiative. It aims to strengthen data governance
frameworks across African countries while promoting sustainable digital
development.
Discussions during the workshop
focused on the formulation of a comprehensive national data policy, with
particular emphasis on data governance, data monetisation, and data
localisation. Participants highlighted the growing importance of effective data
management frameworks in supporting digital economies across the continent.
The programme also featured a panel
discussion addressing emerging trends in data utilisation and the strategic
value of data in driving innovation and economic growth. Stakeholders noted
that robust data policies are increasingly critical to enabling digital
transformation and fostering trust in digital ecosystems.
Officials
indicated that the collaboration reflects broader continental efforts to
harmonise data governance approaches and strengthen institutional capacity for
managing data-driven development.
