Building the foundations of a trusted data ecosystem in the Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 9 June 2026 (ECA) - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy and with the support of GIZ through the Data Governance in Africa initiative, convened a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop and Capacity Building Programme in Brazzaville on 8 and 9 June 2026 to support the development of the Republic of the Congo's National Data Governance Strategy.

The engagements followed a national Country Assessment Mission conducted from 2 to 6 June 2026, during which consultations were held with 21 institutions representing government, regulatory authorities, academia, the private sector, civil society, and development partners. The assessment examined the country's legal, institutional, and technical data governance landscape and informed the priorities discussed during the workshops.

The Stakeholder Engagement Workshop brought together 60 participants to review assessment findings, identify national priorities, and contribute to the development of a coherent and inclusive data governance framework. The Capacity Building Programme, attended by 50 participants, strengthened knowledge and skills on key topics including the African Union Data Policy Framework, data protection, cybersecurity, interoperability, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and the public value of data.

In addition, and as part of the broader partnership between ECA and Google, participants were introduced to the Government AI Campus and undertook an AI Readiness Assessment. This exercise helped identify institutional capacity gaps, as well as opportunities to support the responsible adoption and integration of artificial intelligence within public sector institutions.

Opening the workshops, Mr. Kô Goma, Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to establishing a National Data Governance Strategy as a key pillar of the country's digital transformation agenda.

Representing ECA, Ms. Adyam Abay highlighted the importance of data governance in fostering trust, innovation, and digital sovereignty, while emphasizing the need for collaborative approaches that enable countries to harness data for sustainable development.

The workshops also provided a platform to validate preliminary assessment findings and gather stakeholder inputs on strengthening institutional coordination, trusted data-sharing, cybersecurity, interoperability, and alignment with continental frameworks, including the African Union Data Policy Framework and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030).

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Government of the Republic of the Congo in developing a National Data Governance Strategy that promotes secure, inclusive, and effective use of data to drive innovation, improve public service delivery, and advance socio-economic development.

The initiative represents an important step toward strengthening the Republic of the Congo's digital governance ecosystem and advancing the country's vision for a trusted and data-driven digital future.

Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: [email protected]