By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has called for stronger
adherence to data protection principles across international development and
cross-border data-sharing programmes.
Speaking
at the Gates Foundation Global Growth and Opportunity (GGO) meeting, Kenya’s
Data Commissioner, Immaculate Kassait stressed the need for organisations to
embed accountability, transparency, fairness, and respect for individual rights
into all stages of programme design and implementation.
She
noted that compliance with data protection requirements should not be viewed
merely as an enforcement obligation but as a foundational element of partner
relationships, data-sharing agreements, and operational processes.
According
to the ODPC, challenges in data governance often arise within complex
implementation chains, where downstream actors such as community health
workers, field agents, and local implementing partners operate with limited
oversight and inconsistent compliance with data protection standards.
The
Commissioner observed that such gaps often reflect structural weaknesses in
programme design and contracting arrangements, where data protection is treated
as an add-on rather than an integrated requirement. She further highlighted
that capacity-building efforts frequently fail to reach personnel closest to
data subjects.
The
ODPC reaffirmed its commitment to a balanced regulatory approach that combines
enforcement with collaboration, aimed at ensuring innovation and development
initiatives are implemented in a manner that protects individual rights and
strengthens public trust.
The
Commission emphasized that responsible data stewardship remains essential for
safeguarding dignity and ensuring sustainable development outcomes in an
increasingly data-driven global environment.
