Fourth meeting of the UN CSTD multi-stakeholder working group on data governance at all levels

The UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will hold the fourth meeting of its Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels on 18–19 November 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with participation available both in person and online.

The Working Group is mandated to support international cooperation on data governance for sustainable development and to prepare a progress report to the UN General Assembly.

The programme begins on Tuesday morning with opening remarks and the formal adoption of the agenda. The UNCTAD secretariat will then provide an overview of inputs submitted since the last session, highlighting emerging areas of alignment and divergence among stakeholders. The meeting will move into substantive deliberations organised around four tracks covering key dimensions of data governance: principles applicable at all levels; interoperability between systems; sharing the benefits of data; and enabling safe, secure and trusted data flows, including across borders. These discussions are designed to explore practical approaches, existing challenges, and potential pathways toward consensus.

Following a lunch break, delegates will reconvene for a full afternoon plenary to continue track-based exchanges, with opportunities for interaction among member states, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, and international organisations.

The second day will focus on the Working Group’s upcoming milestones. Delegations will consider the outline, timeline, and expectations for the progress report to the General Assembly, as well as the process for selecting the next Chair of the Working Group. The session will conclude with agreement on the scheduling of future meetings and any additional business raised by participants.