Smart Africa and DIAL convene ADLI 2025 Cohort Two Workshop in Cape Town
Date: 2025-12-17
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Smart
Africa, in partnership with the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL), has hosted the
Africa Data Leadership Initiative (ADLI) 2025 Cohort Two Workshop and Study
Tour in Cape Town, South Africa, from 8 to 11 December 2025, bringing together
senior stakeholders to advance Africa’s digital and economic integration
agenda.
The
three-day workshop convened nearly 40 senior officials and leaders from
Nigeria, Tanzania and Eswatini, drawn from government institutions, the private
sector and civil society. The engagement focused on strengthening data
governance frameworks and promoting interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI) as a foundation for cross-border economic integration across the
continent.
During
the workshop, participants examined practical use cases for cross-border data
flows and DPI, including contributions from the Smart Africa Trust Alliance.
The programme also featured a study visit to the Western Cape Government, where
delegates explored the implementation of digital identity systems and data
exchange platforms in a subnational government context. Country-level group
exercises enabled participants to assess national readiness, identify gaps, and
co-develop policy and governance approaches tailored to their respective
contexts.
Discussions
throughout the workshop emphasized the technical, institutional and policy
requirements needed to deploy effective and trusted DPI systems. Participants
also identified priority use cases and potential pilot initiatives that could
support seamless data exchange, service delivery and regional interoperability.
The
workshop concluded with a certificate award ceremony recognising the commitment
of the cohort members to advancing Africa’s data-driven transformation. Smart
Africa and DIAL reaffirmed their commitment to supporting participating
countries as they translate workshop outcomes into concrete actions aimed at
shaping an inclusive and integrated digital future for the continent.
