From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Africa's Digital Institutions
New policies alone will not drive Africa's digital transformation; institutions and people who put implement them will. Across the continent, regulators are learning from one another while young innovators are helping African Union institutions develop digital solutions from within. GIZ supports these efforts to strengthen digital governance and innovation.
Across Africa, countries are building data protection policies and rolling out digital services. This transformation often moves faster than the institutional capacity of the authorities that deliver them. Some are well-established and others are still developing. Regardless, these data protection authorities frequently face the same challenges – without a structured way to learn from each other. As a result, countries risk building effective enforcement systems the hard way, through trial and error.
African Union institutions face a different challenge. Even well-designed digital and data policies require technical expertise to turn them into working systems. With over 60% of Africa's population under 25, there is no shortage of young, skilled people. However, too few structured pathways connect that talent to the institutions that need it. This leaves digital tools underused, and technology gaps unaddressed from within the organisation.
Regional peer learning among regulators closes the first gap. In June 2026, representatives of data protection authorities and government institutions from Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Africa gathered in Nairobi for a regional exchange. They engaged directly with officials of Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) on how Kenya's Data Protection Act is implemented in practice. Participants exchanged practical experience on implementing data protection laws, strengthening institutions, raising public awareness and responding to data breaches.
Additionally, they discussed how to build the trust people, businesses and governments need to use data confidently. The exchange strengthens institutional capacities, fosters partnerships and contributes to more trusted and harmonised data governance ecosystems across Africa.
Embedding young innovators in AU institutions closes the second gap. In April 2026, 12 highly skilled tech innovators are placed inside AU units. Over the course of a year, they work alongside AU staff to identify operational challenges and develop practical digital solutions tailored to each department's needs. Since its inception in 2021, the year-long fellowship has deployed 42 skilled tech innovators. It has improved data management processes and fostered an active use of digital tools in daily operations. On one hand, the fellowship directly contributes to improving service delivery and AU’s institutional effectiveness. On the other, it gives young Africans real experience in data management, digital innovation and technology development.
Together, these efforts point to the same conclusion: Africa's digital and data governance ambitions will be built as much by capable institutions and skilled people as by the policies themselves.
How GIZ African Union Supports Institutions Behind Africa’s Digital Transformation
Through the DataCipation Programme, GIZ supports the African Union's efforts to strengthen institutional capacity for data governance and digital innovation across the continent. The programme facilitates regulatory peer learning among member states and fosters youth-led innovation in its institutions.
The Regional Data Governance Exchange in Nairobi was initiated by AUDA-NEPAD and organised in collaboration with the Digital Transformation Centre Kenya and Kenya's Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), under the Team Europe Data Governance in Africa Initiative. The exchange brought together data protection authorities from seven countries for five days of peer learning. The initiative strengthens the capacity of governments to develop, adopt and manage data governance frameworks in Africa.
GIZ supports the implementation of the AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship. The 3rd cohort launched in April 2026 bringing together 12 tech innovators selected from over 4,000 applicants. Fellows began with an introduction to AU systems and host units, followed by training in leadership, innovation methodology, and research documentation. The fellowship sits well within AU’s Agenda 2063 by strengthening both meaningful citizen participation in governance and the use of data-driven technology to address the continent's development challenges.