Data for development in Francophone Africa: Equipping, enhancing and sustaining a data culture for the CAFDO

 

Since the first conference on open data in Francophone Africa was held in 2017, the data community has greatly evolved and diversified thanks to the various interventions and innovations carried out by its wide network of experts and partner institutions. After six years of working towards greater openness and use of data, it is an opportune moment for the Communauté d’Afrique francophone des données ouvertes (CAFDO) to adapt its service offering to ensure it remains at the forefront of new challenges surrounding the use and governance of data in a more digital environment. Data-driven artificial intelligence in particular is raising questions and contributing to transformative social change, both positive and negative.

This recent shift by CAFDO aims to ensure that data is used, shared and governed to its full potential to support development initiatives such as the elaboration and monitoring of the implementation of development programs and policies.
This project aims to improve the openness, use, sharing and governance of data for inclusive and equitable development in Francophone Africa. Activities will focus on research, innovation, capacity building, networking and promoting the efforts of the French-speaking community. In addition, CAFDO plans to formally establish the community as a not-for-profit organization to cement its leadership role and ensure the sustainability of its efforts in good data governance in Francophone Africa.

This project will be jointly funded by the Hewlett Foundation. To maximize the reach of its efforts, CAFDO will join the IDRC-funded global Data for Development network, which strives to advance the ethical and responsible use of data to address critical development challenges in the Global South.