Introduction.

Within the context of the Data Governance in Africa Initiative, AUDA-NEPAD and GIZ, in collaboration with CIPESA, are pleased to convene a one-and-a-half-day validation workshop on aligning Lesotho’s Data Management Policy with the African Union Data Policy Framework (AUDPF). The Data Governance in Africa Initiative supports the African Union (AU), its Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Member States in developing development-oriented and human-centric data regulations, data use, and data infrastructure at the continental, regional, and member state levels. The initiative, funded by €60 million from the European Union and its five Member States (Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France and Germany) under the Global Gateway Strategy, provides concrete support for a single digital market in Africa by harmonising regulations on data, creating cross-border data flows and promoting investments in secure and sustainable data infrastructure facilities. In partnership with regional organizations such as the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Smart Africa, UNECA and Civil-Society organisations (CSOs), the programme supports the domestication of the AU Data Policy Framework (AU DPF) - which was endorsed during the 2022 African Union Summit - by providing technical support on assessments, capacity building and policy development for AU member states and RECs upon official request for support to the AU.

The validation workshop for aligning Lesotho’s Draft Data Management Policy with the AU Data Policy Framework will focus on the recommendations that were made and integrated into the Data Management Policy. The engagement will contribute to refining the draft policy framework recommendations, ensuring they are practical, contextually relevant, and aligned with continental aspirations for robust, trustworthy, and people-centred data governance.

Background and Context of the Validation Workshop

The AU Data Policy Framework (AUDPF) was adopted in February 2022 and outlines a shared vision, principles, strategic priorities, and key recommendations to guide African countries in developing their national data systems and capabilities to utilise and derive value from data effectively. The key objectives of the AUDPF include enabling free and secure data flow across the African continent by providing a regulatory environment that promotes the protection of citizens' data rights while allowing countries to leverage data for economic growth as well as fostering intra-African digital trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

As a novel framework on the continent, the AUDPF’s domestication and the implementation of its key recommendations will be critical for Lesotho and Africa as a whole. This workshop seeks to support the domestication and implementation of the AUDPF in Lesotho through the country’s Data Management Policy. In particular, the validation workshop follows a four-day engagement during July 2025, which focused on data governance and its socio-economic transformative potential for Lesotho by, among others, empowering citizens, safeguarding collective interests, and protecting digital rights. The engagement further focused on how Lesotho’s legal and policy framework, particularly the Data Management Policy (2025), could be aligned with the AU Data Protection Framework.

The validation workshop will aim to ensure effective integration and ownership of the recommendations on aligning the Data Management Policy with the African Union Data Policy Framework.

Objectives of the Workshop

The objectives of this workshop are to:

a) To facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue to evaluate regulatory approaches, institutional readiness, and capacity-building needs for effective data governance.

b) To refine the stakeholder recommendations on the DMP to ensure they address national priorities and align with the continental data governance aspirations.

c) To foster collective adoption and ownership of the DMP for Lesotho by all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, academia, private sector, development partners and other players.

Expected Outcomes

a) A consensus-driven DMP for Lesotho.

b) A DMP aligned with the continental best practices on data governance.

Workshop Participants

The workshop participants will include 50 diverse representatives drawn from various states and

non-state institutions within Lesotho.

Format of the Workshop

The format of this on-site workshop shall include presentations, group discussions and plenary sessions.

Venue and Time

Lancers' Inn Maseru. 8:30am - 4:30 pm on Day 1, and 8:30am -2 pm on Day 2.