Lesotho hosts data governance framework training workshop

A four-day workshop on data governance commenced in Maseru this week, bringing together African policy experts to align Lesotho's data protection frameworks with continental standards. The collaborative initiative, co-hosted by Kenya's KICTANet, AU-NEPAD, GIZ, and CIPESA, marks a strategic effort to strengthen Lesotho's digital policy infrastructure in line with the African Union Data Policy Framework (AUDPF). 

Lesotho's Minister of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation, Nthati Moorosi  inaugurated the sessions by emphasizing the critical need for "data equity and infrastructure that serves all citizens." The workshop combines technical capacity building with policy development, addressing both the technical and governance dimensions of modern data ecosystems. 

The first two days, led by KICTANet, focus on core data governance principles, from foundational infrastructure requirements to mechanisms for value creation and rights protection. Participants will examine how data systems can drive socioeconomic development while safeguarding digital rights. CIPESA will then guide stakeholders through a critical review of Lesotho's Data Protection Act (2011) and the new Data Management Policy (2025), assessing their alignment with the AUDPF adopted in February 2022. 

The AUDPF provides a continental blueprint for balancing data flows, digital trade, and privacy protections – objectives becoming increasingly urgent as Africa implements the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

The workshop forms part of broader efforts to domesticate the AUDPF across member states. For Lesotho, this means developing contextualized policies that address specific national needs while enabling secure cross-border data exchanges. Expected outcomes include draft recommendations to modernize Lesotho's data governance architecture and a roadmap for implementing AUDPF principles. 

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta