Decoding the UN CSTD Working Group on Data Governance online series

This online event, co-organised by Diplo, Open Knowledge Foundation (OFKN) and the Geneva Internet Platform, will discuss the progress made by the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at all levels as relevant for development so far, and the expectations for the group’s next meeting, which will take place 15-16 September.

Discussants will unpack two key documents approved last May: the terms of reference and work plan of the WG. These documents provided the base for the creation of four parallel working tracks. Each of them launched a call for feedback and contributions, which will serve as input to future discussions:

Track 1: Principles of data governance at all levels
Track 2: Interoperability between national, regional, and international data systems
Track 3: Considerations for sharing the benefits of data
Track 4: Facilitation of safe, secure, and trusted data flows, including cross-border data flows

Speakers will present an overview of the goals of the working tracks and share the expectations they hold for the next WG meeting.   

The Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance was established by the UN General Assembly as a follow-up to the Pact for the Future, adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future. The Pact includes the Global Digital Compact (GDC), which for the first time formally places data governance on the UN’s global agenda. Recognising the importance of data for sustainable development and the need for inclusive, rights-based governance frameworks, the Assembly tasked the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) with creating a dedicated working group to explore data governance at all levels, especially in ways that support development.

This group has been convened two times: on 1-2 May 2025 and on 3-4 July.  

The next WG meeting will take place on 15-16 September, in Geneva, and will also be open to observers (onsite and online).