Regulatory Sandbox Webinar II. A Deep Dive into Sandboxes

Regulatory Sandbox Webinar II. A Deep Dive into Sandboxes

The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), in collaboration with GIZ under the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and the Datasphere Initiative 

Abstract

As African countries accelerate their digital transformation journeys and grapple with the governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, understanding the role and design of regulatory sandboxes has never been more critical. Sandboxes offer a structured environment to experiment with innovative technologies and regulatory approaches in real-world conditions, helping policymakers, regulators, and innovators navigate uncertainty, assess risks, and unlock new opportunities.

The Regulatory Sandboxes Webinar Series by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) in collaboration with GIZ under the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and the Datasphere Initiative provides a timely and inclusive space for African policymakers, regulators, industry, academia, and civil society actors to come together and unpack the foundations of sandboxing, engage in immersive learning on how to design, implement, and govern them responsibly, while also building the capacity of stakeholders to tackle pressing social and economic challenges. 

Building on the foundational session that introduced the purpose and potential of sandboxes, this second session (Webinar II) offers a deep dive into the practical dimensions of sandboxing. It provides a learning platform for regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, civil society actors, and researchers to explore how to operationalize sandboxes as tools for data-driven innovation and inclusive governance. Learn more about Webinar I here.

Learning Objectives

Building on the foundational concepts introduced in Webinar I, this second session will shift the focus from understanding what sandboxes are to exploring how they create value in practice. Through concrete case studies and multi-stakeholder perspectives, participants will examine the incentives, motivations, and enabling conditions that drive governments, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to engage in sandboxing. Speakers will unpack how sandboxes can be designed and operationalized to generate data value responsibly, balancing innovation, inclusion, and trust, while drawing lessons from real-world implementations across Africa and beyond.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand practical steps for designing and implementing effective sandboxes, from defining objectives to managing operations.
• Explore strategies for meaningful stakeholder engagement and inclusive governance throughout the sandbox lifecycle.
• Learn how to establish evaluation frameworks that measure impact, capture lessons, and inform future regulatory and innovation policies.
• Gain insights from sandbox initiatives in Africa and beyond on how to promote responsible, human-centric, and development-oriented innovation.

About the Data Governance in Africa Initiative

The Data Governance in Africa is an Initiative that supports the African Union (AU) and its member states to form development-oriented and human-centric data regulation, data use and data infrastructure at continental, regional and member states levels. The Initiative provides concrete support for a single digital market in Africa by harmonising regulations on data, creating cross-border data flow and promoting investments in secure and sustainable data infrastructure facilities. The Initiative is funded by €60 million from the European Union and its five Member States (Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France and Germany) under the Global Gateway strategy. The project is implemented from 1st January 2023 to 31st July 2026 by GIZ, Enabel, Expertise France, ESTDEV, HAUS and Digital Africa.