The AU Data Policy Framework, endorsed in February 2022, provides a comprehensive blueprint to guide African countries in harnessing the value of data while safeguarding human rights and promoting socio-economic development. It positions data as a strategic asset central to governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

The framework outlines principles for data governance, including trust, interoperability, security, and inclusivity, while stressing the importance of legal harmonization, regulatory independence, and cross-sector collaboration. It also addresses the uneven development of digital infrastructure across African nations and proposes interventions to create a unified legal and policy environment for safe, secure, and equitable data flows across the continent.

The document calls for robust institutional capacity, investment in digital infrastructure, ratification of the Malabo Convention, and alignment with broader initiatives like AfCFTA to support Africa’s transition to a vibrant, trusted data economy.