Decoding the UN CSTD Working Group on Data Governance online series | Part 3

10 Feb 2026

This online event, co-organised by Diplo, Open Knowledge Foundation (OFKN) and the Geneva Internet Platform, will discuss the progress made by the N Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at all levels as relevant for development so far, and prospects for its 2026 working cycle. Discussants will particularly explore:

  • The current status of parallel working tracks created under the WGDG, and some preliminary conclusions reached under these tracks.
  • The ongoing consultation, aiming to collect inputs for the group’s deliberations (open until 31 January, more information on the website of the WGDG).
  • What to expect in 2026, as the group moves into the drafting of the Report.

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.