Business
East Africa is harmonising cross-border data rules to power its digital economy
As East Africa accelerates its digital transformation, the movement of data across borders has become as important to economic integration as the movement of goods, services, capital and people.
The engagement is one of the major steps towards building a trusted and integrated regional digital economy. (File photo)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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Data protection experts from the East African Community states are meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for a regional validation workshop on the harmonisation of cross-border data flows frameworks.
The engagement is one of the major steps towards building a trusted and integrated regional digital economy.
During the five-day meeting ( June 23rd to 27th ) delegates will review and validate a proposed Cross-Border Data Flows Framework. The framework is designed to facilitate secure, lawful and accountable movement of data across the region, while safeguarding privacy, strengthening trust and supporting digital trade.
As East Africa accelerates its digital transformation, the movement of data across borders has become as important to economic integration as the movement of goods, services, capital and people.
The EAC communication office in Arusha, however, states that despite its growing importance, cross-border data flows remain largely misunderstood by the public.
"Cross-border data flows are no longer a technical or niche regulatory concern. They are central infrastructure for regional trade, financial services, digital public services and health systems across the East African Community," said EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Annette Ssemuwemba, while opening the workshop.
The Deputy Secretary General noted that every mobile money transaction, online purchase, customs declaration, telemedicine consultation, e-learning session and digital government service depends on data moving across borders safely and efficiently.
"Many people do not realise that every time they make a mobile money payment, access an online government service, consult a doctor remotely, or purchase goods online, data is moving across borders. If we want these services to be secure, affordable and accessible, we must create a trusted framework that allows data to move safely across the region," she added, according to a media release from the Secretariat.
For millions of East Africans, cross-border data flows are already part of everyday life.
The EAC communication office in Arusha, however, states that despite its growing importance, cross-border data flows remain largely misunderstood by the public.
"Cross-border data flows are no longer a technical or niche regulatory concern. They are central infrastructure for regional trade, financial services, digital public services and health systems across the East African Community," said EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Annette Ssemuwemba, while opening the workshop.
The Deputy Secretary General noted that every mobile money transaction, online purchase, customs declaration, telemedicine consultation, e-learning session and digital government service depends on data moving across borders safely and efficiently.
"Many people do not realise that every time they make a mobile money payment, access an online government service, consult a doctor remotely, or purchase goods online, data is moving across borders. If we want these services to be secure, affordable and accessible, we must create a trusted framework that allows data to move safely across the region," she added, according to a media release from the Secretariat.
For millions of East Africans, cross-border data flows are already part of everyday life.
Secure and seamless data flows help businesses reach customers more efficiently, improve digital payment systems, facilitate trade, support innovation and expand access to education, healthcare and government services.
East African companies are already leveraging cross-border data to drive economic growth. Mobile money platforms process millions of transactions daily using data-driven systems, digital identity verification firms use biometric data to combat fraud, while technology companies use regional data to strengthen supply chains, expand financial inclusion and improve customer service delivery.
Despite growing digital connectivity, the movement of data across East Africa continues to face significant challenges.
Although several EAC Partner States have enacted data protection laws and established oversight institutions, differences in national regulations, transfer requirements, supervisory mechanisms and enforcement approaches continue to create uncertainty for businesses and institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions.
These differences increase compliance costs, slow innovation and can act as barriers to regional trade and integration.
The challenge is particularly significant for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which often lack the resources required to comply with different regulatory requirements in every market.
Studies indicate that nearly half of small online exporters in Africa report that differences in national data protection and digital regulatory regimes limit their ability to export and expand across borders.
The Deputy Secretary General observed that regulatory fragmentation remains one of the biggest obstacles to building a seamless regional digital market.
"Today, businesses operating in multiple EAC Partner States often face different rules, procedures and compliance requirements for handling data. These differences increase costs, create uncertainty and can discourage innovation. For small businesses and start-ups in particular, fragmented regulations can become a significant obstacle to regional growth," she noted.
The framework under validation seeks to establish a harmonised approach to cross-border data transfers across the EAC that promotes data subjects’ rights and protections while respecting national legal systems and regulatory sovereignty.
The proposed framework will support common standards, interoperable tools, coordinated oversight and practical cooperation among Partner States to ensure that data can move securely and predictably across the region.
It aims to reduce regulatory and compliance barriers for businesses, strengthen trust and accountability in digital transactions, enhance cooperation among national regulators, and support innovation, investment and digital trade, while ensuring that citizens' personal data remains protected and secure.
The release further states that the workshop represents an important milestone in the EAC's vision of establishing a Single Digital Market where businesses, citizens and governments can interact seamlessly across borders through trusted digital systems.
Participants are conducting a detailed review of the proposed framework, validating recommendations from national consultations undertaken across all EAC Partner States and identifying implementation priorities ahead of finalisation.
Expected outcomes include: a validated harmonised framework on cross-border data flows, strengthened consensus among Partner States, agreed implementation priorities and enhanced regional coordination on data governance.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the initiative, the Deputy Secretary General said trusted data flows are fundamental to the success of regional integration in the digital age.
"A fragmented and unpredictable cross-border data regime is, in practical terms, a non-tariff barrier to the Common Market. We cannot build a functioning Single Digital Market while leaving this gap unaddressed," Ssemuwemba said.
"Our objective is not to create new barriers, but to build trust. We are working towards a future where businesses can operate seamlessly across East Africa, citizens can access digital services wherever they are in the region, and governments can collaborate more effectively through secure and trusted data-sharing mechanisms," she added.
Global studies show that countries with data governance regimes that facilitate secure cross-border transfers experience stronger export growth, increased digital trade and greater economic competitiveness.
For East Africa, harmonised data governance frameworks are expected to support digital transformation, strengthen regional value chains, improve public service delivery and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and employment.
The development of the harmonised framework is being undertaken under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), a World Bank-supported initiative that seeks to advance regional digital integration and accelerate the establishment of a Single Digital Market in East Africa through trusted digital infrastructure, harmonised policies and integrated digital markets.
East African companies are already leveraging cross-border data to drive economic growth. Mobile money platforms process millions of transactions daily using data-driven systems, digital identity verification firms use biometric data to combat fraud, while technology companies use regional data to strengthen supply chains, expand financial inclusion and improve customer service delivery.
Despite growing digital connectivity, the movement of data across East Africa continues to face significant challenges.
Although several EAC Partner States have enacted data protection laws and established oversight institutions, differences in national regulations, transfer requirements, supervisory mechanisms and enforcement approaches continue to create uncertainty for businesses and institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions.
These differences increase compliance costs, slow innovation and can act as barriers to regional trade and integration.
The challenge is particularly significant for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which often lack the resources required to comply with different regulatory requirements in every market.
Studies indicate that nearly half of small online exporters in Africa report that differences in national data protection and digital regulatory regimes limit their ability to export and expand across borders.
The Deputy Secretary General observed that regulatory fragmentation remains one of the biggest obstacles to building a seamless regional digital market.
"Today, businesses operating in multiple EAC Partner States often face different rules, procedures and compliance requirements for handling data. These differences increase costs, create uncertainty and can discourage innovation. For small businesses and start-ups in particular, fragmented regulations can become a significant obstacle to regional growth," she noted.
The framework under validation seeks to establish a harmonised approach to cross-border data transfers across the EAC that promotes data subjects’ rights and protections while respecting national legal systems and regulatory sovereignty.
The proposed framework will support common standards, interoperable tools, coordinated oversight and practical cooperation among Partner States to ensure that data can move securely and predictably across the region.
It aims to reduce regulatory and compliance barriers for businesses, strengthen trust and accountability in digital transactions, enhance cooperation among national regulators, and support innovation, investment and digital trade, while ensuring that citizens' personal data remains protected and secure.
The release further states that the workshop represents an important milestone in the EAC's vision of establishing a Single Digital Market where businesses, citizens and governments can interact seamlessly across borders through trusted digital systems.
Participants are conducting a detailed review of the proposed framework, validating recommendations from national consultations undertaken across all EAC Partner States and identifying implementation priorities ahead of finalisation.
Expected outcomes include: a validated harmonised framework on cross-border data flows, strengthened consensus among Partner States, agreed implementation priorities and enhanced regional coordination on data governance.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the initiative, the Deputy Secretary General said trusted data flows are fundamental to the success of regional integration in the digital age.
"A fragmented and unpredictable cross-border data regime is, in practical terms, a non-tariff barrier to the Common Market. We cannot build a functioning Single Digital Market while leaving this gap unaddressed," Ssemuwemba said.
"Our objective is not to create new barriers, but to build trust. We are working towards a future where businesses can operate seamlessly across East Africa, citizens can access digital services wherever they are in the region, and governments can collaborate more effectively through secure and trusted data-sharing mechanisms," she added.
Global studies show that countries with data governance regimes that facilitate secure cross-border transfers experience stronger export growth, increased digital trade and greater economic competitiveness.
For East Africa, harmonised data governance frameworks are expected to support digital transformation, strengthen regional value chains, improve public service delivery and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and employment.
The development of the harmonised framework is being undertaken under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), a World Bank-supported initiative that seeks to advance regional digital integration and accelerate the establishment of a Single Digital Market in East Africa through trusted digital infrastructure, harmonised policies and integrated digital markets.