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Over 250 stakeholders from diverse sectors—including government, civil society, donors, academia, students, and private industry—convened in Nairobi, Kenya for the DataFest Africa 2024 conference, organized by the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Pollicy (a Kenyan-based data collaborative), and co-sponsored by the Center for Global Health Equity at the University of Michigan. The conference, themed "Opportunities for All: Harnessing Data & Technology for Africa's Transformation," provided a crucial platform to celebrate the utilization of data in East Africa. Further, it addressed challenges that impede the growth of Africa's data ecosystem, aiming to turn these obstacles into opportunities for regional and global health advancements.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Data Commissioner Oscar Otieno, on behalf of Kenya's Office of the Data Commissioner, emphasized the vital role that data plays in accelerating the ICT ecosystem, noting,
"Data plays a crucial role in accelerating the ICT ecosystem. Enacting legislation is just one step. The next step is ensuring effective implementation and enforcement, which are crucial in ensuring the success of data protection efforts."
Crucially, the conference underscored the need for continuous investment in capacity building, training, and technology to support data protection initiatives. This aligns perfectly with the mission of the Center for Global Health Equity, which has long partnered with AKU in Kenya to advance the use of data for global health benefits. Since its inception in 2019, DataFest Africa has been a beacon for celebrating data science and its transformative impact on the African continent. Phillip Ayazika, Pollicy Director of Programs, noted, "Despite significant advances in the use of data globally, many countries across Africa still lag behind in harnessing data for social good. We therefore endeavor to use data to help engineer social change and this fifth edition of the DataFest is one of those instrumental ways."
As a co-sponsor of this event, the Center remains dedicated to fostering partnerships and initiatives that leverage data for the advancement of global health equity, particularly in regions like Kenya where the impact can be profound.
