Uganda recognises data as a critical asset to its transformation and in achieving its ambition of becoming a regional leader in the area of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). However, the fragmented data ecosystem in the country poses a significant challenge to spurring innovation.
The success of data sharing and reuse in Uganda strongly lies in the hands of all stakeholders and data players. UNGP Kampala, in cooperation with UNGP Finland and the Ugandan Ministry of ICT and National Guidance used Futures and foresight approaches to bring together these key stakeholders to create a space to discuss future opportunities and build a shared preferred future for data sharing.
What did we do?
Uganda’s success in the data space depends on a collective effort from every actor that recognises the transformative power of data. This was a key reason to bring together over 60 participants, from national and international public and private partners, civil society and academia to discuss the future of data sharing and re-use in Uganda.
Participants gathered for a three-day retreat in Jinja, where they were guided through a series of foresight exercises. Participants mapped the data-sharing ecosystem for three use + cases (tourism, cities and migration), and identified the major challenges and opportunities in each of them. Next, they developed a shared vision for the future of data sharing.
The focus was on creating a future where data sharing is seamless, efficient and widely accepted across all sectors. Participants built upon these visions by identifying concrete actions and collaboration, and defining their and their organization’s role in advancing the data ecosystem.
What did we learn?
The retreat was a unique opportunity to experiment with various foresight methods, to build capacity and identify the best ways to leverage foresight as a tool to align stakeholders.
Some key learnings on the value of foresight include:
In conclusion, the retreat was a success in bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders and creating a conducive environment for discussions around data sharing, thereby building awareness and trust that can guide future efforts to unlock data’s transformative power and propel Uganda forward into the digital age by aligning stakeholders to act against a shared vision of a preferred future.
The way forward
The retreat resulted in concrete achievements that set the stage for continued progress in this important area. Participants agreed to establish an informal working group to continue the dialogue on advancing the data-sharing ecosystem. During the retreat, they explored and agreed on the main purpose of the group, the key questions they wish to tackle together, and how their organizations can support the emergence of the data ecosystem in Uganda.
Moving forward, continued engagement and collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to foster responsible data sharing and reuse in Uganda and to build trust between key stakeholders, with the working group playing a critical role in this effort.
Special thanks go to the UNGP teams (Kampala and Finland) and, more importantly, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in Uganda, who convened the workshop.
Want to find out more? See here the full report on the future of data-sharing and re-use in Uganda.
The Future of Data Sharing and Reuse for Uganda workshop participants (October2022)
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