BY NOKUPHILA NXUMALO (INTERN)
MBABANE – Eswatini has strengthened its drive towards a modern digital economy following a high-level stakeholder engagement workshop on the National Data Policy held on Wednesday at Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane.
The engagement brought together government officials, international partners and regional institutions to deliberate on how data can be effectively harnessed to support economic growth, improve public service delivery and protect citizens’ rights in an increasingly digital environment.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (MICT) was widely commended for leading the process, with stakeholders describing the initiative as timely and strategic in positioning Eswatini within the global digital transformation agenda.
Participants highlighted that a well-structured national data policy has the potential to transform key sectors including agriculture, health, education and finance through improved data-driven decision-making, innovation and efficiency.
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, Thomas Schaefer emphasised the importance of building a secure and coordinated data ecosystem. “Data has become an increasingly important driver of economic transformation, public service delivery, and innovation,” he said, noting that strong governance systems are essential to balance opportunity with the protection of citizens.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Karsten Mecklenburg commended the Government of Eswatini for prioritising data governance, describing it as key to inclusive growth, democratic accountability and the development of a digital economy. He noted that the EU is supporting this work through the Data Governance in Africa Initiative, implemented with partners including the African Union Commission and GIZ.
The workshop also attracted participation from the African Union, Smart Africa and the European Union Delegation to Eswatini, reflecting strong continental and international support for the country’s digital ambitions.
Discussions further underscored the need for Eswatini to align its national framework with the African Union Data Policy Framework. Experts noted that such alignment would enhance interoperability, strengthen trust and enable secure cross-border data flows that support regional digital trade and competitiveness.
Stakeholders also stressed the importance of inclusivity in the policy development process, calling for broad national consultation to ensure that the framework reflects local needs and priorities. This, they noted, would strengthen ownership and long-term effectiveness.
Digital sovereignty emerged as another key theme, with participants emphasising the need for Eswatini to maintain control over how data is collected, stored and utilised within its borders to ensure national benefit.
As the workshop concluded, optimism remained high that the insights gathered would contribute to a robust, rights-based data governance framework capable of driving inclusive digital transformation.
Eswatini is now positioned to leverage data not only as a technological tool, but as a key driver of national development and innovation.
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