Background As African countries accelerate their digital transformation agendas, effective data governance has become increasingly important for strengthening digital sovereignty, improving public service delivery, fostering innovation, and enabling trusted digital economies. While significant progress has been made across the continent in developing digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, many countries continue to face challenges related to data governance, including fragmented institutional arrangements, limited interoperability, inadequate technical capacities, and evolving cybersecurity risks. Continental frameworks such as the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), the African Union Data Policy Framework (AUDPF), and the Malabo Convention provide important guidance for Member States seeking to establish trusted, secure, and inclusive data ecosystems. However, translating these frameworks into national policies and operational systems requires country-specific assessments, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity strengthening. Through the Data Governance in Africa initiative, implemented with the support of GIZ and the European Union, ECA supports African countries in assessing their data governance landscapes and developing national strategies aligned with continental priorities and national development objectives. Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo has made notable progress in advancing its digital transformation agenda through the adoption of digital legislation, the establishment of institutions responsible for cybersecurity, telecommunications regulation, and digital development, and the implementation of initiatives under the Vision Congo Digital framework. Despite these advances, a recent self-assessment identified important gaps in the country's data governance ecosystem, including the absence of an integrated national data governance strategy, limited interoperability frameworks, insufficient technical standards, capacity constraints, and fragmented institutional coordination. The assessment also highlighted opportunities to strengthen digital trust, improve data-sharing mechanisms, enhance cybersecurity, and promote data-driven innovation and economic value creation. To support the development of a National Data Governance Strategy, ECA and its partners are undertaking a series of engagements from 2 to 9 June 2026 comprising three