This technical background paper provides an overview of data governance frameworks in Africa and explores links with public trust and an enabling environment for greater participation in the digital economy. It exploits data from the Global Data Regulation Diagnostic (GDRD) which collected information on data regulations across 80 countries globally, including 24 Sub-Saharan African countries and three North African countries. Additional information for selected countries was collected by February 2022 through desk research and interviews to understand challenges in the implementation of rules captured by the GDRD. While national and regional data governance frameworks have progressed, there are still challenges in their design and implementation. A robust data governance environment is of great importance for Africa to ride the current wave of digital technology advances and to reap digital dividends while avoiding the inherent risks
