Blog

From thought-pieces, event reports to expert blogs on pressing data governance issues check out the latest Datasphere Initiative news.

How Sandboxes Drive Innovation and Smarter Regulation

September 4, 2025

How to Use the Datasphere Observatory: A Guide for Researchers, Policymakers, and NGOs

August 25, 2025

What building the first Sandbox Summer School taught me about the field we’re trying to build

August 18, 2025

Inside the First Sandbox Summer School: What Happens When Global Policymakers Build Together

August 6, 2025

Global Momentum Builds Around Data Governance: Experts Converge for High-Level Sandbox Insights Session

July 24, 2025

Católica Global School of Law, the hosting partner of Datasphere Initiative’s Sandbox Summer School 2025

June 30, 2025

Global data-governance map goes live: Datasphere Observatory links NGOs, funders & themes at a glance

June 23, 2025

2025 Datasphere Governance Atlas: the largest global snapshot of data governance yet

June 17, 2025

Digital health innovation: Are sandboxes a new tool to scale?

May 21, 2025

The Innovation Imperative: Reflections from the 8th NADPA-RAPDP Conference

May 20, 2025

Sandboxes and AI innovation in Europe

May 1, 2025

DPI in the Caribbean: Building Trust, Going Together

April 29, 2025

Moving fast together: How sandboxes can help build trust in Digital Public Infrastructure

April 25, 2025

Responsible AI Experimentation in Africa: Highlights from the AI Sandboxes Co-Creation Lab, Kigali

April 24, 2025

Datasphere Initiative’s Executive Director joins the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development

April 23, 2025

Hopeful by Design: Building a Child-Centered Digital Future

April 14, 2025

Reflections from Kigali: Advancing Agile Data Governance for Africa’s AI Future

April 10, 2025

How sandboxes can support both regulatory and technical innovation in Africa

March 7, 2025

Advancing Global AI Governance: Insights from the AI Action Summit Side Event

March 5, 2025

Time to act – Addressing the women in AI gap

February 3, 2025

Laying tracks for the hype train: a look at AI in 2025

January 23, 2025

Open Americas Conference Side Event on Sandboxes

January 13, 2025

Exploring the Diversity of Sandboxes: Approaches to Innovation and Regulatory Collaboration

December 19, 2024

Leveraging Global South’s Youth Vision For Our Data Future

December 17, 2024

Our takeaways from the UN World Data Forum 2024

November 22, 2024

The AI revolution will reinforce regional disadvantages unless steps are taken to close the data divide

November 15, 2024

The sandbox potential for environmental data governance

November 14, 2024

A new UN pact on digital policy is out. What does it tell us about data governance and how will it translate to practitioners on the ground?

October 9, 2024

5 things we learned at the Innovate Africa Symposium

October 2, 2024

Datasphere Initiative joins the Network of Centers

September 30, 2024

Unlocking the potential of sandboxes in Africa

September 24, 2024

Sandboxes: Tools fit to tackle the policymaking complexities of AI

September 23, 2024

Cracking the Gender Equality Code in African AI through the Datasphere

September 11, 2024

Datasphere Initiative contributes insights to the T20

September 11, 2024

From catching up to leading: how sandboxes can shape the future of technology for people and planet

September 11, 2024

G20 side event spotlights sandboxes as promising new tool to tackle AI and sustainability challenges

September 9, 2024

Why sandboxes are key for responsible DPI

September 6, 2024

6 reasons why Data matters for AI

June 25, 2024

How to cook up a storm with successful effective and ethical data sharing

June 12, 2024

Philipe Moura joins the Datasphere Initiative as a Director of Innovation

May 8, 2024

Amplifying Youth Voices to Shape the Data Future

April 24, 2024

Data and AI for development. Takeaways from the OECD-AU AI Dialogue

March 21, 2024

Outside the box: National and International Sandbox Experiences

March 20, 2024

Digital Dialogues: Thinking Together about the G20 Digital Agenda

March 11, 2024

Let’s #InspireInclusion in Data

March 8, 2024

Camila Gomide on Leveraging Inclusive Data for Women’s Safety Online

March 8, 2024

Mariana Rozo-Paz on Belonging in a Data-Driven World

March 8, 2024

Lilian Olivia Orero on how inclusive data is the key to unlocking a safer online world for women

March 8, 2024

Edith Milanzi on the Power of Inclusion: Unlocking the Value of Data

March 8, 2024

How can sandboxes spur responsible data-sharing across borders?

January 11, 2024

The Power of Youth Voices to Reshape the Data Economy

December 20, 2023

Datasphere Initiative welcomes fellows for the year 2023-2024

December 19, 2023

How to bridge data gaps for inclusive development?

November 13, 2023

Africa Forum on Sandboxes for Data Kicks Off Sectoral Working Groups

November 6, 2023

Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

October 26, 2023

Debunking five myths about sandboxes for data

October 23, 2023

Unlocking data for African prosperity: Strategies to address risks and leverage opportunities

October 18, 2023

Catalyzing Responsible AI Governance in Africa: Insights, Challenges, and Solutions

October 13, 2023

Karen Bett on Responsibly and Inclusively Unlocking Data’s Potential in Africa

October 10, 2023

Justin Bryant on the Power of Sandboxes: Boundless Opportunities for Africa in the Age of Data

October 10, 2023

Rachel Magege on the Value of Data Governance: Unlocking Value and Diversity in Africa’s Digital Landscape

October 10, 2023

DataGrade joins the Datasphere Initiative as a partner

September 27, 2023

African Development Bank joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind technical project partner

September 26, 2023

Why achieving the SDGs requires getting serious about data infrastructure

September 25, 2023

Data and the UN’s Global Digital Agenda

September 19, 2023

Leveraging youth’s vision of data for the SDGs

September 19, 2023

ICC joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind institutional partner

September 19, 2023

Transform Health and the Datasphere Initiative join forces

September 11, 2023

Girl Security joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

September 6, 2023

Introducing the Datasphere Initiative’s online course: “A Guide to Cross-Border Sandboxes for Data”

August 31, 2023

The Datasphere Initiative launches the #Youth4OurDataFuture project

August 30, 2023

Alana joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 30, 2023

Koodos Labs joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 29, 2023

ISOC Youth joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 29, 2023

JAAKLAC Initiative joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 29, 2023

Mtoto News joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 29, 2023

New Blog Series – How to responsibly unlock the value of data for all in Africa?

August 24, 2023

Wanjiru Mburu on health data and the work she is leading on sandboxes in the context of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

August 24, 2023

Irene Magara on the need for collective data governance efforts to ensure utilizing data to its fullest potential

August 24, 2023

Rob Floyd on the potential of Artificial Intelligence for economic policymaking and the power of sandbox exercises

August 24, 2023

Adedeji Adeniran & Ezra Ihezie on why we need to unlock data’s potential responsibly and inclusively

August 24, 2023

Why young people are the most effective storytellers of their experience with data

August 21, 2023

Skills for a greener future: Why youth voices matter in responsibly unlocking the value of data

August 11, 2023

Fadumo Faarah on getting youth’s insights to rebalance unequal power dynamics

August 11, 2023

Krystal Briggs on educating youth on data governance to drive a greener future

August 11, 2023

Andrea Palomino Flores on teaching young people about data governance and how it can drive sustainable practices

August 11, 2023

Germán López Ardila on youth’s role in the present and future of the internet and the digital ecosystem

August 11, 2023

Jennifer Kaber on meaningful youth participation in green policy-making processes

August 11, 2023

Chimbu Chinda on understanding how to use data for more sustainable communities

August 11, 2023

Natalia Loungou on the need to educate youth on the use of technology for a greener future

August 11, 2023

Simona Ruzer and Jad Esber on putting people at the center of decisions about data use and technology

August 11, 2023

The African Center for Economic Transformation joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 10, 2023

Telesto Strategy joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

August 9, 2023

Identifying the wider impacts of responsibly unlocking the value of data for all in Europe

July 27, 2023

Data: The missing piece in ESG Frameworks

July 25, 2023

How data embassies can promote data security for all

July 20, 2023

Launch of the Africa Forum on Sandboxes for Data

July 12, 2023

What did we learn about data at RightsCon Costa Rica?

July 11, 2023

Breaking Barriers: Empowering Africa’s Health Research Through Data Sharing and Governance

July 3, 2023

Smart Africa joins the Datasphere Initiative as an institutional partner

June 27, 2023

Use of Data and Artificial Intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean: Trends and Challenges

June 15, 2023

Empowering Careers in the Data-Driven Era: Harnessing Skills for Success

June 9, 2023

Can Standardization in Policies be a Solution for Responsible Cross-Border Data Flow for Health-Related Data?

May 31, 2023

External Data Governance Board in Brazilian Companies: a Step-by-Step Guide

May 22, 2023

Data Imaginaries and the Sub-Saharan African Continent

May 17, 2023

Portulans Institute joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

May 12, 2023

Negotiating competing interests in the Datasphere: Unpacking source code disclosure provisions in trade agreements

April 20, 2023

The Data Language

April 19, 2023

1st Birthday of the Datasphere Initiative – Our learnings so far

April 18, 2023

An introduction to external data governance boards in Brazilian companies

April 13, 2023

Switzerland joins the Datasphere Initiative as an institutional partner

April 11, 2023

UNESCO joins the Datasphere Initiative as an institutional partner

April 10, 2023

Why do we need to responsibly unlock data to transform health?

April 6, 2023

How can Digitalization Speed the Energy Transition?

April 4, 2023

The African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG) joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

April 4, 2023

Responsibly unlocking the value of data for all: Moving beyond the battle of narratives

April 3, 2023

From data protection to data empowerment: snippets from the CSTD

March 30, 2023

Datasphere Initiative awarded Future of Data Prize

March 15, 2023

Embracing equity when unlocking the value of data

March 7, 2023

Patricia Boshe reflects on creating equal communities

March 7, 2023

Lauren Buitta on the concept and approaches of social equity

March 7, 2023

Shanna Crumley on rooting data practices in equity for inclusive societies

March 7, 2023

Oliver Bott on the need for diverse perspectives to understand how data can be used for the public good

March 7, 2023

Teki Akuetteh on embracing equity for digital transformation in Africa

March 7, 2023

Michael Kende on ensuring equity in AI development

March 7, 2023

Lim May-Ann highlights the importance of equity to unlock the value of data for our future

March 7, 2023

Angela Me on unlocking the value of data to uncover women’s contributions

March 7, 2023

Mariana Rozo-Paz on the need for inclusivity when designing data policies, and technologies

March 7, 2023

Tamara Singh on designing human-centric and inclusive policies

March 7, 2023

Connected by Data joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

March 1, 2023

Ostrom Workshop joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

February 24, 2023

The CyberPeace Institute joins the Datasphere Initiative as an Institutional Partner

February 23, 2023

Zama joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

February 22, 2023

Building agile and inclusive digital identity systems: the potential of sandboxes for data

February 21, 2023

Black History & Data Today

February 20, 2023

People-Centered Internet joins Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

February 14, 2023

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa joins the Datasphere Initiative as a partner

February 13, 2023

Data Privacy Brazil joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

February 13, 2023

Striving for inclusive digital identity systems in times of crisis

February 7, 2023

Digital identity and the need for better data governance

February 7, 2023

How does data impact responsible AI?

February 1, 2023

How has COVID-19 influenced data localization measures?

January 31, 2023

State of medical data in Africa: A case of Barriers to Science in Africa

January 25, 2023

Building trust in international data flows: Why, what, and how do we get there?

January 17, 2023

Grasping the expanding world of data governance principles

January 13, 2023

The Datasphere Initiative welcomes two senior fellows

January 10, 2023

Data governance and education digital readiness

December 13, 2022

Fostering Digital Transformation and Innovation in Latin America

December 13, 2022

Edgelands Institute joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

December 12, 2022

Data Governance in the Pharmaceutical Industry: the External Data Governance Board (EDGB) proposal

December 9, 2022

CIGI joins the Datasphere Initiative as an institutional partner

December 7, 2022

5 reasons why data governance is key for cybersecurity

December 2, 2022

Connecting disparate academic and policy writing on data governance

December 1, 2022

Africa Forum on Sandboxes for Data set to be launched in 2023

December 1, 2022

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

November 30, 2022

UN ECLAC joins the Datasphere Initiative as an institutional partner

November 25, 2022

The new gender battlefield

November 25, 2022

GLIA Foundation joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

November 17, 2022

D4D Global Research Hub joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

November 16, 2022

SINE Foundation joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

November 15, 2022

Aapti Institute joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind partner

November 15, 2022

Challenges faced when leveraging open data in transdisciplinary initiatives

November 14, 2022

Using data to avert a climate crisis

November 8, 2022

What we learned from the Datasphere Initiative’s first cohort of Fellows

October 18, 2022

Beyond oaks and reeds: regulating international data transfers in Brazil

October 14, 2022

Data in war

Data in war

October 13, 2022

Highlights from the UN General Assembly and the role of better data governance

October 11, 2022

Datasphere Initiative announces new cohort of Fellows

October 7, 2022

The Datasphere Initiative incorporates and appoints inaugural Board of Trustees

September 22, 2022

Feminist perspective – lessons for the Datasphere

September 19, 2022

Datasphere Initiative and D4D Network partner on data governance and AI webinar series

September 14, 2022

The constitutionalization of data protection rights: The case of Brazil

September 12, 2022

Graph Data in the Datasphere: Mapping livestock population data categories using graph databases

August 31, 2022

The Data Act: five implications for the Datasphere

August 22, 2022

Indigenous data sovereignty

Initiatives to follow on Indigenous Data Sovereignty

August 9, 2022

Data Governance

Data Governance in Europe: The need for a varied and human centric-approach

July 26, 2022

Data Governance

Arising opportunities and challenges when dealing with Data Governance

July 18, 2022

Open Data

How Open Data Supports Value Creation

June 30, 2022

Why a patient-centric approach is necessary for data governance in the healthcare sector

June 15, 2022

What are sandboxes and how could they address cross-border data challenges?

June 3, 2022

data overseas

Requesting access to data overseas: challenges and opportunities, a view from Brazil

May 16, 2022

data governance solutions

Balancing data opportunities and challenges in the global south with innovative governance solutions

May 3, 2022

value of data

5 things we learned at UNCTAD eCommerce Week

May 3, 2022

personal data

What we mean when we talk about platform transparency

May 2, 2022

datasphere governance atlas

What you need to know about the Datasphere Initiative

May 2, 2022

metaverse

Governance in the metaverse

April 26, 2022

personal data

The EU Data Governance Act: a tale of two cities for the Datasphere

April 20, 2022

Datasphere Initiative

How the Datasphere helps us understand our relationship with data

April 12, 2022

data governance ecosystem

Mapping organizations in the data governance ecosystem

April 6, 2022

Graph data

Graph data in the Datasphere: How graph databases can help us understand the data connections in the Datasphere

March 31, 2022

Datasphere Initiative

How can the concept of the “Datasphere” be useful for challenging perspectives and behavior towards data?

March 25, 2022

data governance

Breaking gender bias for a more diverse and equitable Datasphere

March 8, 2022

Hello Datasphere — Towards a systems approach to data governance

February 28, 2022