This Lusophone Africa Data Governance Workshop is hosted by Mozambique’s National Institute of ICT (INTIC), Smart Africa, and UNESCO, and brings together national policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders from across Lusophone Africa to strengthen implementation of inclusive, rights-based, and interoperable data governance.
In Mozambique, the government is currently formulating both a National Data Governance Strategy and a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy. Other Lusophone African countries, including Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe, are also actively engaging in efforts to strengthen their legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for data and digital transformation. These include national data strategies, data protection laws, and exploratory work on AI policy.
Recognizing this momentum, the workshop is not intended to duplicate existing initiatives but rather to reinforce, support, and accelerate national efforts by providing practical tools, peer-to-peer learning, and technical guidance for implementation. It aims to create a Lusophone community of practice on data governance that reflects the diversity of contexts and priorities, while promoting regional harmonization and knowledge exchange.
Importantly, this workshop also marks the inaugural launch of the Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating the Digital Age in Portuguese, expanding access beyond the existing English and French editions. Making the Toolkit available in Portuguese represents a major milestone for Lusophone Africa, enabling deeper institutional uptake, broader accessibility, and stronger regional ownership of data governance practices.
Through strong collaboration with Smart Africa, UNESCO, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Bank, the workshop also ensures alignment with regional and global frameworks and draws on the resources and expertise of key development partners. Together, the collective aim is to help translate policy ambitions into actionable national strategies and impactful results.
This training and knowledge-exchange session on Data Governance brings together policymakers and key government institutions from Arab African countries to strengthen their understanding of data governance frameworks and support the region's digital transformation. Delivered through a combined self-paced online module and in-person workshop, the training introduces foundational concepts, continental policy instruments, and key elements of effective data governance—including data policy, regulatory approaches, foundational infrastructure, data maturity and evaluation, and emerging issues such as rights, risks, harms, and justice. The workshop further promotes regional collaboration, harmonization of approaches, and alignment with Africa's vision for a secure, inclusive, and development-driven Single Digital Market.
Cette session de formation et d'échange de connaissances sur la Gouvernance des Données réunit des décideurs politiques et des institutions gouvernementales clés des pays arabes africains afin de renforcer leur compréhension des cadres de gouvernance des données et de soutenir la transformation numérique de la région. Dispensée à travers un module en ligne à rythme libre combiné à un atelier en présentiel, la formation présente les concepts fondamentaux, les instruments politiques continentaux et les éléments clés d'une gouvernance des données efficace—notamment la politique des données, les approches réglementaires, l'infrastructure fondamentale, la maturité et l'évaluation des données, ainsi que les questions émergentes telles que les droits, les risques, les préjudices et la justice. L'atelier favorise en outre la collaboration régionale, l'harmonisation des approches et l'alignement avec la vision de l'Afrique pour un Marché Numérique Unique sécurisé, inclusif et axé sur le développement.
🏛️ Course Overview: Policy Implications of 5G in Africa
Welcome to your course on Policy Implications of 5G in Africa!
The rollout of 5G broadband in Africa presents the critical need for policymakers to create updated broadband policies and regulations. This course provides an in-depth overview of the regulatory landscape, its challenges, and the recommendations for localized implementation of 5G.
The curriculum begins by exploring the technical aspects of 5G, including the three usage scenarios (eMBB, uRLLC, mMTC) and the role of IMT-2020. We then detail the policy implications across key areas like spectrum management (low, mid, and high-band frequencies), licensing procedures (licensed vs. license-exempt, including Wi-Fi 6E), and infrastructure deployment (fiber and energy). Ultimately, this course equips you to assess and amend local policies to ensure fair, equitable, and efficient 5G adoption across Africa.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
Analyze the technical characteristics of 5G and its compliance benchmark (IMT-2020) to inform regulatory decisions.
Differentiate between licensed and license-exempt spectrum and assess their policy implications for 5G and Wi-Fi 6E deployment.
Examine the local policy and regulatory implications of 5G in Africa, focusing on spectrum allocation, technology neutrality, and right-of-way issues.
Propose and justify strategic implementation strategies and recommendations for infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and capacity building in your local context.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for policymakers, regulators, legal professionals, and high-level government officials involved in telecommunications and digital infrastructure in Africa. It is highly beneficial for individuals who are:
Responsible for drafting or updating National Broadband Plans and ICT regulations.
Involved in spectrum auctioning, licensing, or ensuring compliance with international telecommunication standards.
Seeking to address challenges related to digital inclusion, infrastructure investment, and public safety in the 5G era.
This course investigates the current state of mobile privacy and security, highlights key trends, insights research into consumer attitudes towards their privacy and as well as examines current and emerging good-practice regulations around the world.
The course will build on recent technical and policy developments, in particular on recent OECD work on privacy and security for mobile environments.
