By Neema Mujesia
Over the past decade, Sierra Leone has made significant strides in its digital transformation journey. From laying the foundations with its Digital Development Policy to advancing legislative frameworks such as the upcoming Digital Government Bill, the country has shown a clear commitment to building an inclusive and secure digital future.
Strategy Validation: A National Milestone
On 7th and 8th August 2025, Sierra Leone took a decisive step by validating its National Data Governance Strategy in Freetown. The event brought together over 130 participants from across the country — from the capital to the provinces — including officers from Western Rural District, North West District, North East District, East District, and South District.
Hosted by MoCTI in partnership with GIZ, the African Union, the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL), the Data for Development (D4D) Hub, and KICTANet, the validation exercise drew representatives from a diverse array of public institutions, underscoring the strategy’s cross-sectoral relevance and national importance.
Key government bodies in attendance included the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), which led the process, alongside the National Land Commission (NLC), the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning (MOPED), the Ministry of Water Resources (MWRS), the National Revenue Authority (NRA), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC-SL).
The event also welcomed civil society representatives, development partners, academia, and the private sector, a testament to the country’s commitment to inclusive, multistakeholder engagement.
This milestone aligns with the African Union Data Policy Framework (2024) which aims to advance data sharing for robust economic and digital development across Africa.
A Gathering of Leaders and Partners
The workshop resonated with KICTANet’s Strategic Plan 2023–2027, which champions multistakeholder engagement, digital inclusion, and rights-based approaches to technology governance across Africa.
Data as a National Asset
In his keynote remarks, Chief Director at MoCTI, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, acknowledged the efforts of all partners and emphasized that the strategy will position data as a core national asset enabling transparency, accountability, privacy, and interoperability across government and civil society.
“Data has become the lifeblood of modern economies. Whether in health, education, agriculture, finance, or governance, our ability to collect, manage, protect, and ethically use data will define our success in the digital era.”
He further noted that the strategy will lay the groundwork for building digital public infrastructure, fostering trusted data ecosystems, and unlocking the full potential of data to improve lives and drive national development.
African-led Partnerships
Raphael Frerking, GIZ Regional Office Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea Country Director, reaffirmed GIZ’s approach: working alongside African partners, not prescribing models, but supporting African-led solutions rooted in dignity, inclusion, and shared values in the digital age.
“We often speak of digital transformation, but let us be clear, data is its foundation. When governed well, data improves how we deliver services, plan infrastructure, allocate resources, and build institutions that citizens can trust.”
His message echoed the central theme of the workshop: effective data governance must be locally driven, contextually relevant, and anchored in shared ownership.
Continental Leadership and Regional Alignment
Holger Rommen, Team Leader, Infrastructure and Rural Development at the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, praised the country’s bold step:
“By bringing these frameworks into national implementation, Sierra Leone is not only aligning with continental goals, it is helping to lead. Sierra Leone now stands second after The Gambia in taking this critical step. This strategy aims to support the government’s quest to leverage digital technologies to advance socio-economic aspirations and human capital development.”
Key Highlights from the Workshop
1. Inclusivity at the Core
The strategy ensures that women, youth, rural communities, and persons with disabilities are not just counted but actively participate in shaping data-driven policies.
2. Beyond a Policy Document
Stakeholders agreed the strategy is a vision for digital sovereignty, accountable governance, and people-centered data systems.
3. Continental Alignment
The framework is anchored in the African Union Data Policy Framework, ensuring a consistent continental approach to privacy, access, and responsible data use.
4. Real-world Impact
Responsible data governance can transform lives — from providing farmers with climate data to enabling secure health records for patients and empowering entrepreneurs with open datasets.
5. Collaboration Across Sectors
The strategy emerged from inclusive, multistakeholder consultations, reflecting the shared responsibility needed for strong data governance.
The Way Forward
The next steps for Sierra Leone include:
- Finalizing and adopting the strategy with stakeholder inputs.
- Establishing robust governance structures to ensure implementation and accountability.
- Investing in capacity building for public sector leaders and technical teams.
- Creating interoperable systems that protect privacy while enabling responsible data sharing.
KICTANet’s Call to Action
In line with the African Union Data Policy Framework (2024), KICTANet calls on stakeholders to move beyond adoption and actively implement Sierra Leone’s National Data Governance Strategy in ways that prioritize inclusivity, protect data rights, and foster public trust.
This means ensuring women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups are meaningfully involved, while safeguarding privacy and enabling ethical, transparent use of data for public good. KICTANet remains committed to supporting African-led, rights-based data governance that advances sustainable development and positions Africa as a global leader in responsible data use.