Leave No One Behind: The Importance of Data in Development | IGF 2023

8 Oct 2023 09:00h - 10:00h UTC

Table of contents

Disclaimer: It should be noted that the reporting, analysis and chatbot answers are generated automatically by DiploGPT from the official UN transcripts and, in case of just-in-time reporting, the audiovisual recordings on UN Web TV. The accuracy and completeness of the resources and results can therefore not be guaranteed.

Full session report

Samuel Nartey George

In a series of discussions, the importance of including all communities, including rural areas, in data governance was emphasized. It was noted that decisions should be based on data from diverse communities, but there is often a discrepancy in the data collected from urban and rural areas due to differences in connectivity and affordability. To address this, it was suggested that data governance should prioritize inclusion to ensure fair decision-making.

Another topic discussed was the need for affordable internet access and devices to promote comprehensive digital footprints. It was highlighted that underprivileged communities face barriers, such as expensive smartphones, which prevent them from fully participating in the digital world. To overcome this, the idea of creating cheaper “generic” technology, similar to generic pharmaceutical drugs, was proposed. This would make internet access and devices more affordable, enabling a more inclusive digital footprint.

The concept of affordable, generic devices was further explored, suggesting manufacturing cheaper devices on the African continent itself. Drawing inspiration from the pharmaceutical industry, the goal is to make technology accessible to all and bridge the digital divide, particularly in underprivileged communities.

Additionally, the potential transformative impact of connecting unconnected communities was discussed. Access to online educational materials was seen as a way to provide young people in these areas with employable skills, benefiting their economic prospects. Internet connectivity was also seen as crucial in establishing local businesses and livelihoods. Therefore, prioritizing internet connectivity in rural areas was deemed essential to unlock economic opportunities and educational advancements.

The significance of education, particularly digital skills, was emphasized. It was recommended to prioritize digital skills development to enable individuals to thrive in the digital era. One suggestion was to allocate a portion of the constituency development fund for acquiring digital skills, ensuring that individuals are equipped for the digital age.

Partnerships with the private sector and civil society were seen as essential in achieving the goals discussed. These partnerships would facilitate the transfer of necessary skill sets and support the implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion, connectivity, and digital skills development.

During the discussions, it was noted that Africa is being exploited not only for its natural resources but also for its data, largely due to a lack of understanding among leaders about the economics of data. It was emphasized that African countries need to prioritize and regulate their data usage to protect their interests.

Implementation checks of cybersecurity legislation and data protection laws were also highlighted. It was observed that while some countries have these laws, proper enforcement is lacking. It is necessary to have rigorous implementation checks to ensure effective cybersecurity and data protection measures.

Overall, the discussions emphasized the importance of inclusion in data governance, affordable internet access and devices, partnerships, education, and regulation of data usage. Addressing these issues can promote digital inclusion and protect data in Africa, leading to sustainable development and benefiting individuals and society as a whole.

Lee Mcknight

Data rights, privacy, and security are vital components that should be integrated into the governance framework of any community, village, or city. It is essential that citizens’ data rights are determined by the people living in the community, ensuring that their data is not harvested automatically without consent by external entities.

To protect citizens’ data rights, collaboration with the Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation has been established. This collaboration aims to bring connectivity to communities, with a primary focus on safeguarding citizens’ data from being harvested without consent. By working together, they are ensuring that individuals have control over their own data and that it is not exploited for external purposes.

In addition, community networks play a significant role in providing connectivity to the unconnected, enabling them to be included and accounted for in data. These networks have been advocated for by the Internet Society and have shown success in various cases. For example, in a previously disconnected community in Chile, the mayor states that thanks to a community network, her community now exists in the data pool. This demonstrates the positive impact of community networks in bridging the digital divide and ensuring that everyone has access to connectivity.

Moreover, advancements in technology have provided new opportunities for community networks. Today, these networks can incorporate energy solutions, such as portable microgrid solar-powered units. This innovation allows for longer connectivity durations without the need for additional infrastructure. A small portable microgrid solar-powered unit developed at Syracuse University has been deployed in over 20 countries, particularly in Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This infrastructure-less network not only provides connectivity but also addresses the issue of limited access to affordable and clean energy in many communities.

In conclusion, embedding data rights, privacy, and security into the governance framework of communities is crucial. Citizens’ data rights should be determined by the community members themselves, protecting their data from being harvested without consent. Collaboration with organizations like the Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation plays a vital role in achieving this goal. Additionally, community networks offer a solution to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that the unconnected are included and accounted for in data. By incorporating energy solutions, community networks can provide longer connectivity durations without the need for extensive infrastructure. These efforts collectively contribute to creating a more inclusive and secure digital environment for all.

Audience

The importance of education and skill acquisition in digital fields for African nations is emphasized in the analysis. It highlights Ghana’s ‘Girls in ICT’ program as an example of efforts to impart digital skills to girls in secondary schools. This program recognizes the significance of providing education and training in digital technology to equip the future workforce.

Furthermore, the analysis suggests that Africa should leverage its data assets and burgeoning internet growth, rather than giving them up indiscriminately for development aid. With the projected boom in internet users in Africa, there is an opportunity for the continent to harness its data resources and drive economic growth. By utilizing data and investing in digital infrastructure, Africa can create economic opportunities and bridge the digital divide.

However, concerns are raised about the excessive collection of data in Africa without appropriate data protection laws. The lack of a human-rights-based approach in data protection laws in most African countries raises potential implications for the future. The analysis points out that accountability for data breaches is often lacking, indicating a need for stronger data protection measures.

Additionally, current data protection laws in Africa often lack necessary elements such as accountability, equality, empowerment, and legality. It is highlighted that some countries enact data protection laws as a formality, rather than out of real necessity. This undermines the effectiveness of these laws and leaves individuals vulnerable to privacy and data breaches.

The issue of sensitive data being stored abroad due to the lack of local storage infrastructure is also raised. For instance, in Togo, electorate biometric data is stored with a private company in Belgium, and the contracts for such data storage are not typically accessible for scrutiny. This lack of local storage infrastructure poses risks in terms of data security, sovereignty, and control.

To address these concerns, the analysis suggests that Africa needs to build the capability to implement effective data protection laws. Despite having data protection laws, some countries, like Togo, lack an agency to effectively implement them. It is highlighted that a regional data registry is being constructed in West Africa with funding from the World Bank. This initiative aims to enhance governance and strengthen the implementation of data protection laws.

In conclusion, the analysis emphasizes the importance of education and skill acquisition in digital fields for African countries. It also highlights the opportunities for Africa to leverage its data assets and burgeoning internet growth for economic development. However, there are concerns regarding excessive data collection without appropriate protection, the lack of accountability in current data protection laws, and the need for local storage infrastructure. The analysis underscores the necessity of building the capability to implement data protection laws and advocates for a cautious approach, highlighting the importance of robust, human-rights-based data protection laws.

Victor Ohuruogu

The UN Foundation’s Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is focused on enhancing the availability, accessibility, and utilization of high-quality data for decision-making. Their efforts are geared towards improving the timeliness of data, fostering inclusivity of marginalized groups in the data value chain, and promoting accountable data governance. With over 600 participants from state and non-state actors across 35 countries, this global network is committed to advancing the cause of data-driven policy-making, bolstering SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

In Africa, there is a pressing need for data literacy and capacity building. The region faces significant challenges in terms of understanding data from both political and technical perspectives. To address this, the Global Partnership conducts programs aimed at enhancing comprehension of various data types and their usage. By empowering individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge, they aim to bridge the capacity gap and facilitate the effective utilization of data in Africa. This aligns with SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

Although data holds tremendous potential for informing political decisions, it often lacks prominence in the political space. Many politicians do not fully consider data while making decisions, which can hinder evidence-based policy-making. By elevating the political profile of data, the Global Partnership seeks to strengthen the connection between the private sector and government. This collaboration can contribute to more robust and informed decision-making processes, aligning with SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

With crises like COVID-19 further highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making, the effective application of data becomes crucial in the humanitarian sector. The Global Partnership recognizes this significance and actively collaborates with humanitarian organizations and Presidential task forces to identify gaps in infrastructure, including computing infrastructure. By strengthening capacity in utilizing both infrastructure and data, policy and decision-making in the humanitarian sector can be considerably enhanced. This effort supports SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

Moreover, the proper management and implementation of data sovereignty issues are emphasized. Individuals whose data is being collected should have a say in how it is used, while considering the principles of data governance. The development of data governance skills within public sector institutions is crucial for ensuring that data sovereignty is respected and protected. These initiatives align with SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

In conclusion, the UN Foundation’s Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data is actively working to improve the availability, accessibility, and use of quality data for decision-making. Their efforts include initiatives such as enhancing data literacy, advocating for the political prominence of data, and strengthening data utilization in the humanitarian sector. By addressing capacity gaps, promoting accountable data governance, and engaging both the public and private sectors, the Global Partnership contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Kwaku Antwi

The speakers emphasized the significant impact of data as a crucial driver of economies, often referred to as the “new oil”. They highlighted how data has become the focus of global conversations and has the potential to revolutionize industries and drive innovation. Open data was also discussed, emphasizing the importance of making information easily accessible on various platforms. This allows for the sharing of valuable information across sectors and encourages collaboration and innovation. However, it was acknowledged that the digital divide poses a challenge to accessing data due to limited internet connectivity in some communities. Bridging this divide was emphasized to ensure equal opportunities for all. The speakers also stressed the importance of empowering communities with skills to effectively utilize data and set up networks. Open data and internet connectivity were seen as transformative forces in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors. The conclusion highlighted the need to recognize and enhance Africa’s capacities in internet connectivity to drive transformation through the exchange of open data. Overall, the discussions underscored the crucial role of data and the potential of open data and internet connectivity to contribute to Africa’s inclusive growth.

Dr. Smith

In Africa, the implementation of data initiatives plays a significant role in accelerating progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals on the continent. These initiatives have the potential to address key challenges and support sustainable development in Africa, which faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities. By leveraging technologies and data, Africa can address issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability.

One of the main arguments is the importance of implementing data initiatives in Africa. These initiatives can help African countries overcome various obstacles, including limited access to resources and infrastructure. By harnessing the power of data, governments and organizations can make informed decisions and develop evidence-based actions to address pressing issues. This can lead to improved service delivery, better governance, and enhanced economic growth.

It is crucial to address challenges such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development to ensure that these technologies benefit all segments of society, including the most vulnerable. Data privacy and cybersecurity are essential to protect sensitive information and maintain trust in digital systems. Additionally, investing in infrastructure development is necessary to ensure reliable connectivity and access to digital technologies across the continent.

The collaborative efforts between government, private and public sectors, and civil society organizations are vital for the successful implementation of data initiatives in Africa. Governments, along with the private and public sectors, must work together to create supportive systems and policies that enable the effective use of data technologies. Civil society organizations also play a crucial role in advocating for transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making processes.

By effectively using technologies, African governments can lessen existing challenges and continue to create more sustainable, inclusive, just, and prosperous futures for their citizens. Embracing innovative technologies can help bridge the digital divide, promote inclusivity, and empower marginalized communities. This, in turn, can lead to reduced inequalities, increased access to quality education, and stronger institutions.

The idea of Pan-Africanism, which recognizes our shared humanity and the importance of unity among African countries, is another noteworthy argument. Furthermore, the idea of a United States of Africa, which has been discussed since the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) days, is not as futuristic as it may seem. Both concepts highlight the importance of regional integration, cooperation, and solidarity among African nations.

However, achieving these goals requires grassroots mobilization and the active involvement of citizens. Leveraging technologies can help move this social movement forward by facilitating communication, organizing campaigns, and raising awareness. The united efforts of individuals, communities, and organizations are crucial in realizing the vision of a global Africa or a United States of Africa.

In conclusion, the implementation of data initiatives in Africa is essential for achieving sustainable development goals. It is vital to address challenges such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development to ensure that these technologies benefit everyone. Collaborative efforts between government, private and public sectors, and civil society organizations are crucial for creating supportive systems. By effectively using technologies, African countries can create sustainable, inclusive, just, and prosperous futures. The concepts of Pan-Africanism and a United States of Africa are not far-fetched, and grassroots mobilization is needed to achieve these goals.

Usman Alam

The Science for Africa Foundation, a pan-African organization that funds research and innovation across the continent, emphasized the crucial role of locally generated, governed, and diverse data for driving impact in Africa. They highlighted the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in data, especially in the African context and with regard to women. The Foundation also highlighted the challenge of limited access to data, even at high governance levels, due to data being housed in specific ICT ministries. This indicates a need for greater collaboration and coordination in data governance.

Advocacy for equitable partnerships and the prevention of governance in silos was another key point raised. Usman Alam, in his advocacy work, underlined the importance of fostering partnerships that are fair and inclusive. He emphasized the significance of locally generated data that reflects the diverse facets of the demographic, as this ensures a comprehensive representation of the population. Alam cautioned against the risk of governing in silos, as it can hinder access to data, even at high government levels. This highlights the importance of breaking down silos and establishing collaborative frameworks for data governance.

Connectivity was also discussed as a transformative factor in driving research and innovation within the African context. The availability of connectivity can change how research and innovation are conducted and has the potential to unleash the full potential of individuals and communities. The concept of a community of practice was suggested as a means to foster new funding and implementation approaches, facilitating greater connectivity and collaboration in research and innovation endeavors.

Promoting equity through the hub and spoke model of funding was presented as a promising strategy. This model is based on partnering with other stakeholders to provide equal opportunities for all. It offers the potential to empower women’s leadership and strengthen the connection between government, researchers, and data. By fostering collaboration and sharing resources, the hub and spoke model can contribute to reducing inequalities and promoting equitable development.

Trust issues relating to the handling and sharing of personal data were recognized as a concern, particularly within the academic and expert community. This indicates the need for robust data governance frameworks and mechanisms to address these trust issues. Building trust is crucial for ensuring the effective and responsible use of personal data, thereby strengthening institutions and promoting peace and justice.

Lastly, the importance of harnessing endogenous knowledge for sustainability was highlighted. The successful response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea underscored the value of utilizing local knowledge and expertise. Leveraging endogenous knowledge in the continent’s healthcare management can lead to more effective and culturally appropriate solutions. This highlights the significance of recognizing and leveraging local expertise and knowledge for sustainable development.

In conclusion, this analysis emphasizes the critical importance of locally generated, governed, and diverse data in Africa. It highlights the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in data, the challenges of limited access to data, the value of equitable partnerships and the prevention of governance in silos, the transformative potential of connectivity, the role of the hub and spoke model in promoting equity, the trust issues surrounding personal data, and the value of harnessing endogenous knowledge for sustainability. By addressing these challenges and leveraging these opportunities, Africa can harness data and knowledge to drive positive impact and sustainable development.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir

The discussion highlighted several key points regarding the use of data and technology to enhance connectivity and drive development. Moderator Yusuf Abdul-Qadir emphasized splitting the conversation into two key components. The first component involves addressing gaps in data use and strengthening data ecosystems. This entails identifying and bridging any existing gaps in data usage, encouraging the effective use of data, and enhancing the overall data ecosystem. The second component focuses on leveraging technology and community networks to ensure universal connectivity. This involves leveraging technological advancements and community networks to provide connectivity to even the most remote and disconnected areas.

Inclusivity in accessing and leveraging data was also underscored as a crucial aspect. Ensuring that everyone is included and that no one is left behind in discussions on data access and usage is of utmost importance. However, specific strategies or approaches for achieving this inclusivity were not provided.

Community networks were praised for their ability to bring connectivity to previously disconnected areas. These networks are created by people to cater to the specific connectivity needs of their local communities. The Internet Society has been a strong advocate for community networks. An example of their effectiveness was highlighted by a formerly disconnected community in Chile that established a community network during the pandemic.

Furthermore, the integration of connectivity solutions with sustainable energy sources was deemed effective in enhancing the impact and efficiency of community networks. Syracuse University, in collaboration with the Worldwide Innovation Technology Entrepreneurship Club, has developed connectivity solutions that are packaged with portable, microgrid solar power sources. These solutions have been successfully deployed in over 20 countries and are currently being used in Ghana to connect school children in libraries.

The discussion also recognized that access to the internet and data has the potential to unlock people’s fullest potentials and affirm their existence. Data and internet access play a crucial role in acknowledging the interconnected nature of communities and fulfilling mutual obligations. This perspective aligns with the concept of Ubuntu, which advocates for interconnected existence.

Yusuf Abdul-Qadir supported the idea of using open data and community networks to facilitate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and unlock human potential. He believes that technology and data can unite the continent and drive development, supporting the notion of a United States of Africa as a way to foster a connected and inclusive continent.

The transformative power of internet connectivity and open data was acknowledged in various sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture. Internet connectivity allows for the sharing of information in an open environment, enabling advancements in these sectors. The availability of cloud infrastructure and access across diverse sectors was seen as essential for enhancing capacities and ensuring digital inclusion in the African context.

Additionally, the discussion emphasized the importance of gender equality and good health and well-being. Maximizing human potential requires advocating for gender equality and prioritizing good health and well-being. Connectivity has the potential to significantly impact these sectors, leading to positive outcomes for overall development.

In conclusion, the discussion provided valuable insights into the importance of data use, technology, and connectivity in driving development and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The need for inclusive access to data and leveraging community networks was emphasized. Moreover, the integration of sustainable energy sources with connectivity solutions was seen as effective. Internet connectivity and open data were recognized for their transformative power, while the importance of gender equality and good health and well-being was highlighted. Overall, the discussion underscored the immense potential of harnessing data, technology, and connectivity to unlock human potential and foster a connected and inclusive society.

Session transcript

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Mic check. Okay. Welcome. From Kyoto, Japan. For our discussion. Entitled leave no one behind the importance of data in development. If you’re here, you’re in for a treat. We have some dynamic panelists here with us in person. And in line with the theme of today’s discussion of not leaving anyone behind, we have those who will be joining us virtually. Before we get into it, and before I kind of get into a long monologue here, I want to invite my esteemed colleague and friend, Dr. Danielle Smith of Syracuse University, to open us with some opening remarks. Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith:
Thank you, Yousef. Greetings to the session’s organizers, the presenters, the audience here in person and virtually, and to all those attending the UNIGF in Kyoto. I am truly honored to welcome you to this session. And I would also like to thank the people of Japan for your very warm hospitality. I’m very thankful for the leadership of Wissam Donkor and Kwaku Antwi at Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation, who are joining us virtually. Their tremendous support in planning this session has been instrumental. As we know, there are many ongoing data initiatives around the world. Implementing data initiatives in Africa can play a significant role in accelerating progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals on the continent. Africa faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities. And leveraging these technologies can help address key issues and support sustainable development. However, it is also important to address challenges such as data privacy, cybersecurity, infrastructure development, and ensuring that these technologies benefit all segments of society, including those who are the most vulnerable. In addition, governments, the private and public sectors, and civil society organizations must work together to. create supportive systems for the implementation of these diverse initiatives. By effectively using such technologies, African governments can lessen existing challenges and continue to create more sustainable, inclusive, just, and prosperous futures for their citizens. The session presenters are experts in this area and can help us understand these initiatives and broader global trends. It is particularly important to learn about developments on the ground and from experts who are in the field. Thank you again for joining us, and we look forward to an informative session. Thank you.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you, Dr. Smith. As I said, we’re going to get right into this discussion. And for those joining us in person and virtually, we’ve decided to split this conversation into two main components. The first component is addressing gaps, encouraging data use, and encouraging strengthening the data ecosystems. The first set of conversations will be situated in that piece here. And then the second component is leveraging technology and community networks to make sure that everyone gets connected. It’s essential that we don’t just theoretically have a conversation about ensuring access to data, leveraging data, but making sure that everyone is included and that no one is left behind. As I said, we have an amazing set of panelists here with us in person and online, and we’re going to get right to it. So to kind of begin, I want to start with you. Let’s see, Victor Ohuguru. Forgive me and correct me in your presentation for me not pronouncing your name correctly, who’s a senior Africa regional manager at the UN Foundation for Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. I want to begin with you. If you can just please give us a minute or two of opening remarks and let us hear how you’re doing this work at the UN. We don’t want to leave you behind, so let’s look. Well, while we get Victor, let’s go to Kwaku. Kwaku Antwi is a leader with this collective here from the African Open Data and Internet Research Foundation. Kwaku has been, as Dr. Smith mentioned, an important leader in this conversation and someone who has helped to drive the conversation. Kwaku, if you could please introduce us to yourself and please inform us as to how the AODIRF is leading the way and making sure that not just that communities have access to open data, but what are the tools that are necessary to accelerate the SDGs?

Kwaku Antwi:
Thank you, Yusuf, and hello to everybody. My name is Kwaku Antwi from the African Open Data and Internet Research Foundation. I’m in charge of the community outreach and projects and also in organizing events around open data initiatives across Africa through our network. I think one of the most important aspects we recognize in our current dispensation in this digital world, it’s being informed or being part of what is going on in our society. Data, as they say, is a new oil which is driving our economies. And being able to access data and utilizing data is also very important for all of us. I mean, as we speak now, there’s a lot of information ongoing as we are participating in this year’s IJF in Kyoto. And when we talk about data and open data, we talk about data which is available in formats which are easily accessible on portals or repositories which do not require enormous and mitigating. circumstances for you to not be able to access that data. Open data, we can say is one of the biggest drivers of open communities and also being able for people all across the world and in communities to be able to access information. One beautiful aspect about open data is that it encourages not just the private sector, government and all other sectors to be able to share their data, to be able to have people utilize this data for purposes and where we’re able to strengthen ourselves and also enforce where there are data gaps in which we can be able to share and also improve our societies. Well, in accessing this data, we all know that we’re in a digital world now and data is not just on hard copies in some libraries or some safe havens or safes where it is and you need to be able to have the other data which is internet connectivity to be able to access this data. And that’s where we also come in in which we are bridging this divide in terms of connectivity and setting up community networks and also helping the communities themselves to have the skills to set up a network, to have the skills to be able to utilize this data, interpret it and understanding the data for themselves and also being able to transmit the data in formats which are usable, acceptable and also safe for them. So those are my open remarks and I leave the floor for the rest of the panel.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you Kwaku. I want to jump to my colleague at Syracuse University, Dr. Lee McKnight. Lee, as Kwaku said, data is gold. It is valuable. Many companies are in an AI race right now where they’re leveraging data in ways that are helping to accelerate their economic opportunities but we’ve done work in the past around ensuring that not just that we ensure that data is accessible but that we preserve people’s rights. Can you talk about the relationship between expanding access and internet connectivity with ensuring that that data is governed properly and appropriately and can you lead us into some solutions onto how you manifest that in your work?

Lee Mcknight:
Thank you. Thanks Yusuf and thank you all for being here virtually or in person and engaging in this very important conversation. I want to recall back to 2008, IGF in Hyderabad, perhaps somewhere here, there or there at that time when the coalition, Dynamic Coalition on Internet Rights and Coalition on Internet Principles agreed that it didn’t make sense to have two coalitions on rights and principles but there really should just be one going forward. of the following year. Since then, there’s been a charter on internet rights and principles created. Following that, over work with you, we’ve taken that work forward on embedding in the virtual space rights and principles for governance, for whether it’s for data rights, for privacy, for security. That now has been extended closely with you, Yusuf, to smart cities and communities. Any village, any community can be a smart community, can have embedded in its governance framework rights and principles, including for data rights. So that’s going forward to the present, where now with the work also with the Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation on bringing connectivity to communities anywhere in the world, we can help ensure that the rights and privileges to citizens’ data are determined by those people who live there, and they’re not automatically harvested by external forces without the consent of the community.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you. I think along those lines, we have the honorable. Can we just say this again? Honorable Samuel Narti George, a member of parliament from Ghana here with us. And Dr. McNight explicitly mentioned the importance of ensuring nothing about us without us. In essence, that we should not be accessing and determining governance principles around data without ensuring that the communities who are directly impacted have not just a voice, but are driving the conversation. Can you talk a bit about the role that you as a member of parliament can play in ensuring that data governance is inclusive of the voices of your constituents, and the work that Ghana is doing to accelerate access to data and making sure that the data ecosystems are secure and respecting your citizens’ rights?

Samuel Nartey George:
All right, thank you very much. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. depending on what part of the world you are in. I believe that the conversation about doing this for everyone, inclusive of everyone, is extremely critical. And for me, it highlights a major disconnect because we have this conversation about the West leaving Africa, but we don’t discuss the disconnects inside of our own countries in Africa between our capital cities and the rural communities that are underserved or unserved. Because governments and parliament has to take decision on the basis of data that’s generated. A lot of this data is generated from e-government portals and services that people access online. Now, the question you need to ask yourself is the connectivity in Accra, for example, is different from the connectivity in a rural community in the northern part of Ghana. And so that data that parliament or the Ministry of Finance is going to be using to advise parliament in terms of resource allocation is going to be skewed based on the data, the source of that data, which is skewed towards the urban areas where people have higher spending power and are able to buy data, because we joke about it, but possibly what I spend on data in a week is actually a whole family up north, the whole subsistence of that family of six people for a whole month. And so the question is, if data is not as cheap and accessible and platforms are not accessible, people are not contributing to the data pool. And so we need to look at the disconnect and the digital gaps inside of our own countries on the African continent between our urban areas and underserved areas. And that’s where the community networks coming. And that’s where you have in Ghana, for example, our universal access fund, GIFEC, trying to close that gap and do last mile connectivity. I keep saying that we have a lot of conversations on these platforms about connectivity, bridging the connection, the connectivity gap, but we’re not talking about whether that connectivity we’re bridging is actually accessible or affordable. Because it’s one thing to bring a network into a community, it’s another thing determining if it’s at a price that the individuals in that community can hook up to the service. Because if you don’t get the data from the people in the underserved area, we will continue to make decisions in parliaments, in capital cities, that are skewed away from the needs of the people on the ground. And so that’s where the real disconnect is, and that’s the real quagmire that I think we need to figure out, how do we get, because government is increasingly making its decisions on the back of data sets that are generated by people’s, by digital footprints of citizens. But if in our countries we have citizens who do not have a digital footprint, because they don’t have access to internet, or even when you bring internet at very economically affordable prices, the cost of smartphones is inhibitive, because there are various segments to connection. It’s the connectivity itself, then the cost of the connectivity, and then access to that connectivity on a device. And so for me, I’m beginning to champion a case of saying that, just like in pharmaceuticals, where you have generic drugs, because the big pharma, big pharma has made profit from its intellectual property, and so a drug that’s produced by Bayer or Pfizer could cost about $100 for a sachet, but I could get that same drug by an Indian generic maker, same efficacy, but not the same brand name for $5, and by doing that in pharmaceuticals, we should begin to do the same thing in technology, where the likes of Apple and Samsung have made a lot of money off the intellectual property, we should begin to have generic devices that are going to be cheaper, that are assembled on the African continent, and then would make it easier for people to have digital footprints, because a citizen without a digital footprint cannot be part of the data sets that government is using to take decisions for them.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
As I said, honorable. Dr. Uzma Alam here from Science for Africa Foundation. Join us virtually. Dr. Uzma, really appreciate you being here. As a public health practitioner, data is key to understanding how we can solve, especially in context of the pandemic that we’ve left, are kind of leaving, or may still be in, depending on where in the world you might be. Data has been tremendous in both deploying public health resources and understanding how we are going to be efficient in ensuring everyone is taken care of. Can you please share with us a bit about what you’re doing at Science for Africa Foundation and the role that data will play from a public health perspective?

Usman Alam:
Thank you for that. And greetings, everybody, from Nairobi, Kenya. And a big, big thank you for the organization. And it’s been really exciting for me to hear the panelists who came before me, because where we are, like where the Science for Africa Foundation plugs in, we are towards the end of, we would be benefiting from what some of the panelists have started doing, especially in health. So the Science for Africa Foundation, just for context, is a pan-African organization where we fund research and innovation across Africa. But we also work with designing programs and providing ecosystem strengthening. And within that, we have a science policy engagement portfolio. And that you pointed out, too, looks at how can we drive value from African-generated data, and how do we actually stimulate what the honorable member of parliament just mentioned? How do we ensure that Africa is responsible for generating its own data? But also, how do we govern that? And I think critical issues and threads of this have come up, but something I just would like to highlight for context of this conversation is, I’ve been hearing the word data, data, data. But I think within data, what our work’s pointing to and what I think the discourse should be focused upon, or to even answer your question directly, what will take us from data to impact, is really those nuances within data. And what do I mean by that, right? So yes, there is data, but there is this need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in data. As we’ve already talked about, you know, west-driven data, a footprint that doesn’t match the African content. But within that, we have our women. Let’s not forget them, a big piece, when it comes to health, and especially the next pandemics, right? And within that, there’s also this whole concept within Africa that we really need to, if we need to get from data to preventing the next pandemic, like you said, or even drive impact. is this piece around governance, right? So Africa, yes, needs to generate its own data and we need to be responsible for governing it. But there’s this piece that, you know, we need to appreciate that data is obviously cross-cutting, right, whether it’s health, whether it’s agriculture, whether it’s finance and stuff. And what some of our work has been pointing to, especially when we start looking at governance around data policies in Africa, you know, they’re housed very specifically within, for example, majority of the ICT, you know, equivalent ministries of health, right? I mean, ministries of ICT. And that obviously has implications for how somebody in health can access that data, even at a local level, even within governments, right? And there is this fine balance of what, you know, what the mission of one is, and, you know, what the mission of the other is. I think, you know, my rallying call to this conversation and, you know, to get from data to impact would be, yes, you know, we need equitable partnerships. We need, you know, locally generated data, and that includes devices for it. But we also need to be very careful of how we govern, that we do not start governing in silos, that, you know, when the data exists, we can’t even have access to it, even at a very high levels. I think I’ll stop at that and hand back to you, Yusef.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you, wow. I think we still have Victor Uhurugu on the line. Victor, please, if I’ve, again, mispronounced your name, I am a stickler for saying people’s name right, so please let me know if that’s the case. But if you can please talk to us about your work at the UN, and in particular, how the UN is trying to bridge the gap between all of the respective conversations we’ve had here. We have academia here, we have governments here, we have civil society here, and the UN plays an important role as a convener. What are you doing at the UN, and how do you see these issues of data governance, particularly for Africa, manifesting themselves in ways that have. help to facilitate the Sustainable Development Goals.

Victor Ohuruogu:
Thank you very much. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Yes, yes, we can hear you. Yeah, I think I’m Victor, Victor Horogu. Yeah, so good morning, everyone. Of course, good evening for some of you in some other parts of the world. I’m Victor Horogu. I work with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, which is warehoused within the UN Foundation. The UN Foundation is where we’re currently seated. The Global Partnership is a growing network of over 600 participants or partners, which includes state actors and non-state actors. These non-state actors are civil society organizations, the private sector, research, academic institutions, developer communities across the world. And these actors are set across about 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. So we’re all collaborating together to accelerate progress on sustainable development and on the SDGs particularly, but through better data. So together with our set of partners, we have looked at and we’re collaborating across three key systemic issues that have been identified together with our partners. And one particular set of that issue focuses on timely data. We do believe, and we have seen across the world that governments particularly need data on a very timely basis to making decisions and enabling the various policy instruments that they do put together. But these governments are not having that quick access to information, to data. And so we’re helping governments to make use of both non-traditional data forms and technologies that could help them have the best and quickest access to this data. We also look at… the issues of inclusive data, where we want to see marginalized groups, you know, have more agency in the data value chain. People who, you know, have been left out. We’re ensuring that governments and all other actors within the data value chain can focus on this set of people. And the third component of our program looks at accountable data governance. You know, we’re trying to unlock the opportunities of data for all, making sure that data is well governed, you know, by certain standard principles. And so what do we do in a particular country? My role covers Africa pretty much, where we have seen that there is a huge issue around capacity, just understanding what data is across different levels, both in the political and technical space, understanding what type of data is needed, you know, to drive certain policy, you know, issues, understanding how to even use that data in itself is a major issue. And so we have various programs that focuses on building capacity in terms of, you know, understanding what type of data is needed, where to source that data, how that data can be used. And we’re working with both, you know, all the actors within the value chain, particularly governments, but ensuring that we can strengthen, you know, connection and partnership between the private sector and government to drive the agenda of data. You know, we want to see how that data is given its prominence within the political space. Particularly, it would, you know, of course, not be too surprising for many of you that a lot of government actors, you know, make decisions that are not data driven. You know, of course, politicians, you know, are pretty much focused on what, you know, will get them into the place that they need to be. But oftentimes, very many of them do not reckon with data. So how do we push the political profile of data within government, but also working with the technical, you know, level guys to ensure that they have access to the right data sets that they need to support government in their various decisions and policymaking process. And so I will look forward to, you know, how that, you know, we could have it. broad-based conversation that bring all of the actors together, and we could work, you know, with all of you to address, you know, the issue of access, availability, and the use of this particular data for policy and decision-making within the continent. Thank you very much.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you, and thank you for correcting me in the pronunciation of your name. You know, as we said, this conversation will be split into two. I want to advise those who are joining us virtually that our colleague Lahari Chowdhury will be able to collect your questions. If you are joining us virtually and you have any questions, Lahari Chowdhury will be able to collect your questions in chat. That way, we can make sure that we are including everyone in this conversation. So, as I said, the first component of this conversation has kind of been addressed. We’ve talked with our dynamic panelists here, and I want to jump to, and I think actually Victor helped us really transition into the second component, the second piece of our conversation, which is leveraging technology and community networks to make sure that everyone, making sure data gets to everyone. You know, Dr. McKnight, I’ll start with you first. I don’t want to assume we have, we’re all operating on the same set of understanding of what community networks are and how we can leverage technology to both advance community networks and make sure that data gets to everyone. So, can you do two things for me? Can you first explain what are community networks? How do we ensure that it can be utilized as a mechanism to ensure access to data for everyone? And then talk a bit about some of the work that you’re doing around this particular set of questions. Sure. Thank you so much, Yusuf.

Lee Mcknight:
So, first, we can think about community networks, and I would give a lot of big credit to the Internet Society for all of its advocacy and work over many years in encouraging people to think not just of telecommunications or national level networks, but the fact that people can, in fact, build and create their own local networks. And so, that work has been ongoing for some time. I wanted to bring in here one example, maybe as this transition from the first part of the conversation to the second, and I forget her name. I should remember her name, but the mayor of a Chilean community that was previously disconnected until there was a community network during the pandemic. She said, we exist. That’s now she’s part of the data pool. Yes, she has to have rights and be protected, but now her community, she exists in a way she didn’t before. So, community networks provide a way to now bring connectivity to people, the 2.5, 2.6 billion people that exist, but they’re not counted. They’re not included in any way, generally speaking, in our conversations because they cannot reach us digitally. All right. So, now how do we go about this today? There’s many different technologies available to create community networks, and that great work has been done for some time. We here at Syracuse University, working with the Worldwide Innovation Technology Entrepreneurship Club, or WITEC, over decades, have developed a package. small form where it’s not enough to have connectivity. If you don’t have energy, right, you cannot stay connected for very long. Your battery life. So having a package that includes both a connectivity solution and is a tiny little portable microgrid solar powered, that’s been something that we’ve been evolving and has been deployed into over 20 countries now and is currently in use in Ghana for connecting school children libraries and further as its first deployment was in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So it’s possible now. It’s not like, this is not theory. This is just something that we come see it in the exhibit booth. Otherwise, you could have a more established, a larger community network with established towers and so on, but you don’t necessarily need to create any new infrastructure. We’ve talked about being the academic here, infrastructuralist networks. So we can have an infrastructuralist network that is not just a network, it’s also a microgrid that exists, that you can go see it. So this is not theory, this is fact, and we can take this, there’s 2.6 billion people that need to be connected. They exist. I’ll stop there.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Honorable, and thank you for that, Lee. I’m struck with the we exist comment that kind of struck a particular core with me. And Ubuntu is a concept on the continent of I am because we are this notion that we are, we have an obligation amongst and with each other. Can you talk a bit about just the way that we go beyond, and I thought you put it beautifully, beyond connecting people from a very kind of academic or kind of theoretical perspective, but what does that do to demonstrate that we exist? How do we unlock people’s fullest potentials by providing them the access to data as well as the internet?

Samuel Nartey George:
Well, it literally just transforms the world. the world. It changes the entire economics of that locality. And I’ll give you a typical example of something that a project that we’re toying with in Ghana at the moment. If we were able to connect an unconnected community and then we could send them educational material, a young man who he or she would have had to go to a city center to learn a trade or go to a master craftsman could actually with a smart phone take models in how to become a bricklayer or a mason or become a skilled laborer. And that gives him an employable skill. That puts food on his table. So there’s an ability to run blended learning platforms are critical. COVID taught us a lesson in Ghana where kids who were not connected to the national grid lost a year of school. If we had community networks, because we actually put educational material on the Internet and on national TV, but some of these communities had absolutely no connectivity, be it electricity, TV or Internet. And so the kids in those schools have lost a year of their lives thanks to no fault of theirs. Now, if you’re able to connect these communities, you transform the whole ecosystem there. Because there’s someone there who’s now going to be able to run a business center. It brings a whole new lease of life to the people in there. And so, I mean, most of us in those rooms, even in capital cities, we do a lot more with data on our phones than voice calls. Our lives revolve around data. And you can just imagine what happens if you don’t have data. The first thing people ask for when they walk into an establishment, especially for all of us who have traveled here, the first thing I did at the airport was not to change money. idea that the airport was to get a data seam. Because it’s the only way I can stay connected. It’s the only way I can stay productive. If I don’t have data, I’m cut out. And so if we’re able to bring people to a place where they’re connected, you actually open a whole new specter. You just need to see the excitement in communities that get connected to 3G for the first time from 2G. Because when they’re just doing voice, they have absolutely no connection to the internet superhighway. And now the internet is actually where everything happens. The young people who’ve graduated school in urban areas who are able to make a livelihood by trading on Facebook, being able to sell, they buy things, they have a Facebook page or an Instagram page, and they’re selling. Now imagine that there’s a young man in the rural community who also has the opportunity to now become the guy who, if you need anything from the major city, he goes to pick it up, puts a little margin on it, and people in that community can actually just deal with him on WhatsApp. It doesn’t even have to be on Instagram. He can run a business page on WhatsApp where he advertises his wares, and he can transact business there. So there is real economic power that exists when you give people connectivity. Because I mean, many of us take these connections for granted. We use them for TikTok and Instagram and Snapchat. But the internet has real economic power for people who are in the most difficult positions. And that’s the power of transformation that we can bring. When we let people realize the transformative positive impact of the internet, either for business or for educational purposes, there’s a real life opportunities that can change the whole specter for people. And when people get these skills, it’s now a digital world. He can be sitting in that village and doing data processing for a blue chip company in the United States and get paid for it. Because now he’s able to lend data processing. or learn coding online, those are all opportunities that he, the two, he would have to leave that community and travel to an urban area where he most likely has nobody and be exposed to all the vagaries. But you can bring the world into the small device in the hands of that young person so long as you give them a connectivity. And I think that it’s something that as governments and as parliaments, we need to begin to prioritize to identify these communities and begin to reach out to them as a matter of course. Because for the telcos, most of those communities don’t make economic sense for them to go into in the first place. Because they’re looking at the numbers, they’re looking at the cost of running their infrastructure. And so when I hear Doc talk about infrastructure-less connections, those are the kinds of connectivities that we need. And for the kids who are using those connections in Ghana to access educational material, that’s material they would never have been able to access. But kids who are gonna write the same end-of-year exams with them who are in urban areas have access to those same materials. So you have kids going to write the same exams but are completely disadvantaged from the get-go. Now how do they pass and compete with these kids in the urban areas for limited slots in public universities? So this just bridges the gap and creates a whole new vista for these young people in those communities. And that’s why it’s very imperative that we take this as a very serious point.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
You know, I will be very transparent and say that I am a professed, avowed, and committed Pan-Africanist. And Kwaku and I have had a number of conversations personally around Pan-Africanism and the role that it plays in both facilitating a brighter future for African descendants across the globe. But Kwaku, if you could talk to us a bit about what open data and community networks can mean for helping to not just facilitate the UN Sustainable Development Goals, for not just unlocking, as the Honorable mentioned, the fullest human potential. of each of us, but also to build a United States of Africa to kind of facilitate for this connected, inclusive continent.

Kwaku Antwi:
Thank you, Yusuf. And I think the Honorable Member of Parliament has given us a segment. I think Dr. McKnight also spoke about it. Basically, when we talk about open data and also the infrastructure where you’re able to access on portals and with technologies and the data, it’s important for us just not to think. I think Dr. Ousmane talked about silos, OK? To not think about our domains where we are looking to ignite or digitalize or to push forth for the technologies to apply. And we’re just talking about education, OK? But there is endless possibilities to the innovation of the technologies and the data. So for example, I’ll just give a very short example we had this year. This year, we did an Open Data Day in which we celebrated open data in Accra. And what we did is that we brought together persons from the statistical part with the open data. We brought people back from the private sector in terms of those who use geospatial data technologies. And then we brought the space science technology. And guess what happened? They were talking to people. They were talking to themselves in the room. They were doing very similar jobs, which required a lot of data from a disaster, from climate to economic data to private geospatial data for all sorts of purposes. But guess what? They were transforming our communities. And what was the connection? What is this connection? Is the connectivity to be able to connect to the internet? to be able to talk to people, to be able to exchange. Today, I’m able to connect to you from where I am in Accra, Ghana, due to internet connectivity. I’m knowledgeable, I have that information, I’m sharing with everybody because I’m connected. I’m connected because we are all in an open environment in which we can share information. And this information is being recorded and it’s gonna be reposited in a portal or at a storage place where everybody can access. And this is the power and transforming nature of internet connectivity and the power of data and information that it brings and the richness to which. In Africa, we have this potential. And yes, we should and we are able to transform our communities with this kind of data and information that we have. Because being here and being, having that internet backpack in Winneba or in Tamale or in Wa or in Ho, I should not just be able to connect with the school children who are in this community, but I can also connect across the country. Not only so, but the cloud infrastructure that is available for you to be able to access should you have also interactive capacity in which is not just for education, but also our healthcare facilities, our agricultural facilities, and also all other facilities who are able to connect as we are doing across the continent. And as Yusuf, it’s important that we recognize our capacities and being able to enhance it in African context to be able to connect everybody, as you said, Ubuntu. We are all moving together in this forward together and we go ahead with everybody ahead. Thank you.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Thank you Kwaku. Dr. Uzma, you and then Victor will be the last two before we open it up for conversation with those of us in the audience. Folks who may have questions online. please do send them in chat and Lahari Chowdhury will make sure to get those questions to us. And for those who are in the room, please, you don’t have to run up to the mics, but you’re welcome to also join us for questions. Dr. Uzma, the question for you is centered around good health, well-being, gender equality, and let’s leave it with those two issues first. You know, we’ve talked about unlocking and unleashing everyone’s potential. We’ve talked about the way that connectivity can ensure people’s fullest potential can be maximized, but from a practical, pragmatic perspective, this can have significant implications on ensuring good health and well-being and gender equality for women and girls. Two of the 17 SDGs addressed there. Could you please lean in a bit about those two topics for us, because we don’t want to make sure, we want to make sure that we are not leaving out an explicit call out for gender equality, for making sure that women and girls are included as well as good health and well-being. Dr. Uzma.

Usman Alam:
Oh, thanks. Thank you for that question. I love it. It’s really got me more excited. So, you know, if we pin our work around those two pillars you’ve said, right, and then bring in this piece of connectivity, it’s actually what everybody has said, right? It’s life-changing. And it’s life-changing not only for the end users, but in honesty, it’s going to be all of us, but what it also does is it changes how research and innovation is done within the African context. And that’s, you know, very critical. If this dialogue has been saying, we need to drive our research agenda, you know, we need to drive our innovation, but then, you know, as soon as we start saying that, we need to start thinking how are we going to fund this, right? And the only way we can, you know, ensure that this, that we take off, not take up the boxes, but, you know, we leverage on all these different areas, whether it’s gender, whether it’s, you know, data, whether, you know, you want to call it connectivity, is through these linkages, right? And the way I would like to look at these linkages or connections is through community of practices, right? And just to give you a small example of what this means in. in practice in how it’s implemented, right? So we are very focused on when we fund for whether it’s research or innovation to fund within this hub and spoke model, right? And where you have a lead organization that works with, you know, other organizations around. And these can be, you know, the private sector, the academic sector, the government sector. And when we say lead institutions, you know, the importance for us was like, if we just look at the funding landscape, right, whether it’s for health, whether it’s for innovation, whether it’s for agriculture, finance, or whatever in Africa, you know, there are pockets of where the funding goes. We know South Africa is strong. We know Kenya is strong. We know some of the North African countries are strong, but Africa is huge and there’s capacity across our 54 member states. So to ensure that we leverage these, you know, our model says, or works around the philosophy of, all right, you know, you’re a stronger lead institution, but you need to partner with the other stakeholders and, you know, bring in these other players that wouldn’t have access to this, right? And what that all of a sudden does is creates equity for us, right? Whether or not only in how we fund, but also, you know, how we bring in our women leadership, how we bring in other stakeholders, how we connect government to researchers and to data. And for us, so that’s a big piece of equity. So connections and connectivity is a community of, you know, practice all of a sudden translates into equity. But another thing, you know, a critical thing, and I’m surprised it didn’t come in our first discussion is when we think of data, there are lots of trust issues. We need to be honest, right? Even within academics, even within the experts. But once you provide this framework for sharing knowledge, exchange connectivity, you know, there’s this trust built. So that already then translates into sustainability and sustainability is a big part of how health is going to play out on the continent. And I think one other piece that’s, you know, really powerful for us from the health perspective is, again, when you think of, you know, connecting that first conversation we had around data and, you know, the second conversation around connectivity, there’s this piece of endogenous knowledge, and there’s a lot of endogenous knowledge in Africa that’s not pinned upon. And just to give you a very quick example, so I remember responding to Ebola in, you know, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. And I remember, you know, there was this whole thing about isolation and stuff, and, you know, having this academic conversation of how are we going to do this at GDC. But all of a sudden, because we had this connectivity and we weren’t really, you know, networked within networks of communities, you know, it was the endogenous knowledge that drove this. Somebody from Sarah Lone said, hey, you don’t need to do this. We already do this. We already have isolation centers for our women and children, you know, when they go through measles or when they go through menstruation and stuff. So we literally, that was knowledge, that was data that existed that we could leverage on. So I think, you know, just to end, it’s, you know, life transforming and for us and the end of implementation, it, you know, drives three things, equity, endogenous knowledge and trust.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Wow. We have a question online and Victor, I’m gonna direct this question to you. It comes to us from Daria Tamereva. She’s notes and asks, how could we effectively implement data for the humanitarian sector? We, and then another question, I’ll say the second one with you honorable, which asks, we lack digital skills. What can be done to remedy this situation? So Victor, the first question for you is, how could we effectively implement data for the humanitarian sector? And then a question on digital skills and remedying that for you, honorable.

Victor Ohuruogu:
Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much. So how could we implement data for the humanitarian sector? So for us, we, one of the things that we, you know, come to discover is that the, within the principles of, you know, leaving no one behind, we’ve come to realize the fact that the development sector straddled between the public sector and the private sector seems to be very much advanced as the private sector is, but within the public sector space, there’s a lot of capacity issue. And so our concern is. how do we bridge this capacity issue that enables the public sector, particularly coordinating with the development space in the private sector to respond more effectively to humanitarian issues when and when they do break out in Africa. And so we’re looking at a couple of things, particularly within the public sector space to strengthen their capacity in responding to humanitarian issues. Of course, when COVID broke out, it has, of course, humanitarian dimensions to it. And what did we do with a couple of countries across Africa? One is the fact that we did discover that infrastructure was a major, major challenge for the public sector in responding to issues such as humanitarian challenges. Infrastructure, such even as computing infrastructure that enables them to bring together all the key information and datasets that enables them to make quick decisions. So we were working with a number of the presidential tax policies on COVID-19 to, of course, bringing our private sector partners, looking at where infrastructure is needed for immediate deployment and where causing that partnership to occur. Second is the issue of capacity, knowledge, and skill in using this infrastructure and data to making the decisions that governments are needed to make at that point in time. And then we identify what are those capacity-related issues and brought together a set of our partners who are helping to train public sector officials across Africa in identifying and using the type of data that is needed to support governments in making decisions. We have partners like Grid3, who was working with a number of health institutions, the national statistical offices across Africa in a couple of countries to bring the sort of datasets that they need, both from the economic side, from the health side, you know, just, you know, mashing this data. data sets together to provide analytics and insights to enable government to making decision. The third area was the area of the capacity around understanding sovereignty issues with respect to data. This data that is needed for decision purposes are being collected from a set of people across various communities. We were opening the eyes of government to ensuring the fact that these people whose data is gonna be collected and used must have a say in the way that data is being collected from them and in the way that that data would eventually be used. And so we wanted to ensure that everyone whose data is being used must have a say, they have a right, their rights as well must be protected. But more importantly also we saw that a lot of folks from outside of Africa were all jumping into Africa, demanding for data from government, using that data without recourse to certain principles, sovereignty principles in those locations. And so we’re opening the eyes of government and strengthening the capacity to manage these data sets in terms of understanding that the first issue has to do with ownership. Government within those spaces where those data sets are being collected must exercise ownership over such data. We also wanted to be sure that those data sets need to also be located within the confines of those countries. There were countries that were willing to work but they insisted that the data sets must not leave the shores of their country, they must be used for the purposes for which they were collected for. And of course the issues of privacy and protection, how data moves from one country to the other, even building the capacity of governments in terms of governing that whole data space itself was a major issue. Governments across Africa in most instances, the public sector institutions that handle these processes don’t have real capacity within the issues of data governance. So we’re also helping to build those capacities to ensure that the data sets that are gonna be used are limited, you know, to the borders of that nation, but of course also are very much, you know, the people comply with the protection laws, the confidentiality issues that that data brings upon all of us. So in a nutshell, the humanitarian sector needs data and critically, how do we help them is also making sure that the data that they need can be available. It’s accessible in formats that they can take and use this data for quick decision-making. And so we are hoping that one of the things that governments in Africa would really focus on is in data infrastructure that enables data systems from across various institutions to be connected together and to grant, you know, better access to everyone, particularly within the government sector who needs to use these data for policy and decision-making. Thank you.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Honorable, before you jump in, are there questions in the, if you have questions in the room, please line up and we’ll make sure to get you honorable and then we’ll have these two questions.

Samuel Nartey George:
Yes, please. Sorry, oh. Okay, I’m just gonna keep it short so you don’t have to stand for too long. Basically, when it comes to education, it’s a very simple process. We need to be able to work with civil society and the technical society to build the capacity and do the training programs. Members of parliament need to be able to, on our own, we can offer the training, we can give the training, but we can partner with civil society organizations and technical society to bring the skill sets to our constituents. So for example, I could put a quota from my constituency development fund towards acquisition of the skills and then run them as boot camps so that the local constituents are able to get some of these digital skills. So I think it’s going to, and then that’s just at the level of the member of parliament, but government as a whole must begin to look at how it can also run these programs. In Ghana, for example, we have the Girls in ICT program, which focuses on girls in. in second cycle schools, takes basically a road show to the schools, trains them in basic code writing and hacking and ethical hacking, and gives them some kind of digital skills. And so governments can be able to invest in those kinds of programs as well. But ultimately, the resource must come from private sector, civil society. We must be able to build those synergies and give those skills to the people.

Audience:
Thank you. My name is Jarell James. I founded something called the Internet Alliance. And I’ve done a number of cryptography projects before this. I work in a deeply technical field on emerging technologies around cryptography for quite a while. And so I’d like to ask a question specifically around leverage. And as someone who is a devout Pan-Africanist, I do think this is very relevant. When we talk about like Walter Rodney or Thomas Sankara, do we think that their values around African intellectualism, African ingenuity, and valuing that as a resource, do we feel that that is reflected in the way that African nations are leading their countries with development around data sharing? When Victor spoke about not letting data leave borders, I mean, in a lot of ways, when we work in cryptography, it’s like data can leave borders. But it can only be accessed by those who have direct cryptographic key access to that data. And there is this idea that Africans are just supposed to share everything that they have for the sake of development, for the sake of checks, for the sake of investment from expat. So my question is really around community networks and all of this stuff is really great. But is there ways and better approaches to leveraging data as an actual asset? Leveraging the fact that GSMA predicts the greatest boom and growth in internet users is going to be Africa and is Africa year over year. So when someone comes in and builds telecommunications infrastructure, and they choose not to go to a region that seems to be not profitable, do we feel that there is? room there to say, well, if you want access to this data, we have leverage over you. Can we develop more? I just want to hear some thoughts on this. Because it seems like we’re operating from a very subservient position there.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
I love the question. I’m going to take the second one, and then we’ll try to get both.

Audience:
OK. Sorry. OK, so my name is Emmanuel from Togo. So mine is more like a contribution, because recently I worked with APC and other organizations on a report regarding data protection on the continent. And what we noticed is that on the continent, we are leapfrogging. Like, we are collecting too much data. I mean, in our countries now, you see the telcos are collecting. The hospitals are collecting. Everybody’s collecting data. So the consequences in the future can be very huge with all the emerging technologies we are seeing today, like AI. So the consequences for the continent we have to be careful. They will be very, very huge. And it is important for us to develop our data protection laws on a human-based approach, human-rights-based approach. Because most data protection laws on the continent today are not developed on a human-rights-based approach. And by human-rights principles, I mean the accountability. There are a lot of data breaches in Africa today, but who do we hold accountable? So there’s that accountability. There’s also the discrimination, equality, empowerment, and legality. I know a lot of countries in Africa today are actually enacting data protection laws for the sake of a check. So it’s something that we have to actually also see that, is it really necessary for us to collect this kind of data? Because we collect two main data. If I take the voters, for example, in my country, they collect their biometric data. They take their picture. They take their 10 fingers. They take all those data, but the government does not have any infrastructure locally to store those data. So those data are somewhere in Belgium with a private company. Nobody has access to those contracts to see the accountability level of those type of contracts. So 3 million voters have their data with a private company somewhere in the world. So those are some of the aspects that we have to also look at. I know in West Africa now, they are building a regional data registry for countries like Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo. where the World Bank has actually put in more than 300 million dollars to actually build that registry. But the problem is that our government usually, because if I take the case of Togo, they took that check, and before taking the check, the prerequisite was to vote a data protection law. They voted the law, but there’s no agency to implement the law. So there’s no need to have a law if we cannot implement it. So those are some of the things that we have to look at when we are actually voting those laws. We have to be able to implement it. We have to be able to actually fight for our data rights. We have to know who has access to it, to what level, can we correct it, and all those kind of mechanisms, we have to put them in place before going for those checks. Thank you.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Honorable, if we could do this in a rapid fire, and I would be remiss if we didn’t afford the folks who asked the questions to continue the discussion. So we’ll continue the conversation. We’ll probably have to walk outside to do it, but we’d be happy to do so. Honorable.

Samuel Nartey George:
I honestly wish these questions came like 30 minutes ago, and I agree with you. Africa doesn’t know what we’re sitting on. We’re being exploited. Most times when we talk about exploitation in Africa, we think of just the natural resources, but data is being exploited big time. It’s being exploited because the big demographics are sitting on the African continent, and we have leaders who just don’t understand the whole economics of data, and it’s a big problem. And I think that there’s an awakening coming, and the point you just made, and this morning’s parliamentary track, it was a point I made to the panel. I said to them, it appears as though we come to these platforms, and there’s a checkbox that countries need to tick. So we need to have data protection laws. We need to have cybersecurity legislation. We run back, we go past the legislation, and then we get good ratings by international organizations. What they don’t do is then find out, Africa has some of the best. legislation, but implementation is zero. So there should actually be a matrix of checking implementation of legislation that’s been passed. Because, for example, you have Egypt that has a data protection law, but there is zero implementation of data protection in Egypt. And so there is no value to the citizenry there. Nigeria had a data protection law and just only three months ago set up a commission. So there are real issues here, but the international community is interested in saying, oh, this country has passed the data protection law, they’re doing a great job. And because we want to please Western capitals, because of the corruption of African leaders, we’re unable to actually deal with what is really requisite. But I think we’re running out of time. We’ll continue this conversation, but I think that we need a new generation of African leadership that knows that our data is critical and we need to hold it.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
With that, we are at time. I want to thank the panelists here for all of the conversation that you helped to drive us towards. Give the panelists a round of applause. For the folks who are online, thank you for joining. Unfortunately, we’ve got to go, but we will continue the conversation and we look forward to having you all join us at our booth. It’s in the main event hall, excuse me, in the main exhibition hall. You can find us at ACIP.org. We’re next to the kimonos, apparently, so grab a kimono and talk with us. And Dr. Smith, did you want to say anything before we close?

Dr. Smith:
Well, yeah, I just wanted to say quickly to the brother, because Pan-Africanism is about recognizing our humanity. The idea of a United States of Africa relates to your question, and I don’t think it’s as futuristic as it seems. It’s actually an idea that has been talked about from the OAU. So I think Walter Rodney’s idea of Pan-Africanism is really Africans at the grassroots level. While we need the politicians, they have the responsibility. and roles, we cannot achieve this goal of a global Africa, of a United States of Africa, without the mass mobility of the young people, of grassroots people. And it’s important to leverage the technologies that we have to move this social movement of a United States of Africa forward. And we can achieve it.

Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:
Perfect ending. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. you

Audience

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Dr. Smith

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Kwaku Antwi

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Lee Mcknight

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Moderator – Yusuf Abdul-Qadir

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Samuel Nartey George

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Usman Alam

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Victor Ohuruogu

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