On June 2-5, 2026, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) together with the Republic of Kenya, Kenya Space Agency, and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics will host the Global Data Festival in Nairobi, under the theme: “Powering Resilience, Innovation, and Partnership through Data and Technology.’’
As governments and public institutions increasingly adopt AI and data-driven technologies, the challenge is no longer whether to innovate, but how to enable safe, trusted, and effective data access and sharing that generates public value. National statistical offices and line ministries are facing growing demands around interoperability, data quality, and the production of more inclusive and disaggregated data systems.
Organized by the Datasphere Initiative in partnership with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), this 90-minute Co-Creation Lab will explore operational sandboxes as a practical mechanism for testing and validating technical standards, processes, and solutions in controlled environments. Moving beyond theory, the session will bring together governments, technologists, civil society, and researchers to collaboratively design sandbox models tailored to public sector data challenges.
Through interactive group discussions, participants will examine governance structures, stakeholder roles, technical requirements, and risk mitigation approaches necessary for effective operational sandboxes. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical guidance for designing operational sandboxes and identifying opportunities where sandbox approaches can create value across national and sectoral data systems.
Register your interest here before May 22, 2026 and join us in Nairobi.