View the schedule of events for DataFest Africa 2025.
Pre-event
Thursday, 6th August
Pollicy, Aga Khan University, Nairobi
Day One
Monday, Tuesday, 17th – 18th August
Day One
Puuto Gerald Kikomeko,
Curator of the 2026 Afrofeminist Data Museum
Pollicy, Tanzania dLab
Peterking Quaye, Centre for Data Governance & Regulatory Excellence.
Martha Iyambo and Mbanangwa Cynthia Kwilasya,
MK Legal Consultancy.
David Mugerwa, Project Hello World.
Ministry of Communication, IT & Innovation, Zanzibar
Irene Makau, AI Policy and Data Governance Researcher, CIPIT
Ivy Gikonyo, Project Officer, Centre for Human Rights
Neema Iyer, ED & Founder Pollicy
Bernard Sabiti, Project Coordinator, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Frank Ssekamwa, Founder & ED, OneTechConnect
Moderated by
Angela Minayo, Programs Officer, Digital Rights and Policy, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
A Masterclass exploring how feminist and civic tech organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa can reclaim control of their impact data, and why that control is inseparable from organisational autonomy, funder accountability and community beneficence.
Gabriella Razzano, OpenUp
The session utilizes intersectional research from Research ICT Africa’s Just AI and Inclusive Data Governance programs to discuss collective approaches to data justice, such as monitoring air quality and protecting community living standards.
Pria Chetty, Research ICT Africa
Adeboro Odunlami, African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA)
A gentle, beginner-friendly introduction, reading a dataset, asking a question of it, and visualising an answer using African datasets participants recognise.
dLab
This session explores how domestic workers in Kenya are using digital platforms to organise, exchange support, and strengthen resilience within increasingly platform-mediated labour environments.
Prof Salome R.A. Bukachi, The University of Nairobi (UoN)
This session explores how lessons from the Kilimo na Data initiative and the use of AI-driven solutions can bridge the gap between climate data generation and its practical use by farmers and agripreneurs, enabling more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural development across Africa.
dLab
Dr Godfrey Justo, University of Dar Es Salaam
Steven Prager, Gates Foundation
Stephano Joe
This session explores how feminist-led organisations in Tanzania are building ethical data futures by weaving together data governance, AI ethics, and community-centred technology to advance the rights of women, girls, and marginalized communities.
Navina Mutabazi
Kijana na AI Initiative
Barefoot College Zanzibar
Wajamama
Milele Zanzibar Foundation
This session demonstrates how high-quality, governed, and interoperable data serves as the foundation for effective Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), using Uganda’s Government Digital Registry as a practical case study.
Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda
This session demonstrates how high-quality, governed, and interoperable data serves as the foundation for effective Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), using Uganda’s Government Digital Registry as a practical case study.
Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda
A space to reflect together on how feminist, decolonial, and Indigenous methodologies can challenge and expand knowledge production on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), centre communities, and open pathways to healing, accountability, justice, and movement building
Tigist Shewarega Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications
Diana Bichanga, Association for Progressive Communications
This session explores how accessible, interoperable, and locally relevant data ecosystems can accelerate African AI innovation across sectors such as agriculture, climate resilience, healthcare, education, and public service delivery.
Saba Tiku, GIZ African Union
Kuuku Sam, GIZ African Union
This session explores how feminist and youth-led approaches can shape ethical, inclusive, and safe digital and data ecosystems in Africa.
Lydia Achieng Odhiambo, Body and Boundaries Africa
The discussion will examine how private sector responses, including data sharing, content moderation, financial restrictions, and surveillance practices, can adopt a do-no-harm and human rights-based approach that avoids unintended impacts on civil society, freedom of expression, privacy, and association.
Catherine Mbui, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
An interactive session that discusses groundbreaking new recent data from CIGI on technology-facilitated gender-based violence and invites participants to frame recommendations towards more inclusive responses to TFGBV, drawing on that data.
Bonnita Nyamwire, Director of Research, Pollicy
An interactive session exploring how Afro-feminist perspectives can reshape data governance toward equity, justice, and grounded digital futures.
ARTICLE 19 West Africa
Day One
Puuto Gerald Kikomeko,
Curator of the 2026 Afrofeminist Data Museum
Pollicy, Tanzania dLab
Peterking Quaye, Centre for Data Governance & Regulatory Excellence.
Martha Iyambo and Mbanangwa Cynthia Kwilasya,
MK Legal Consultancy.
David Mugerwa, Project Hello World.
Ministry of Communication, IT & Innovation, Zanzibar
Irene Makau, AI Policy and Data Governance Researcher, CIPIT
Ivy Gikonyo, Project Officer, Centre for Human Rights
Neema Iyer, ED & Founder Pollicy
Bernard Sabiti, Project Coordinator, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Frank Ssekamwa, Founder & ED, OneTechConnect
Moderated by
Angela Minayo, Programs Officer, Digital Rights and Policy, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
A Masterclass exploring how feminist and civic tech organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa can reclaim control of their impact data, and why that control is inseparable from organisational autonomy, funder accountability and community beneficence.
Gabriella Razzano, OpenUp
The session utilizes intersectional research from Research ICT Africa’s Just AI and Inclusive Data Governance programs to discuss collective approaches to data justice, such as monitoring air quality and protecting community living standards.
Pria Chetty, Research ICT Africa
Adeboro Odunlami, African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA)
A gentle, beginner-friendly introduction, reading a dataset, asking a question of it, and visualising an answer using African datasets participants recognise.
dLab
This session explores how domestic workers in Kenya are using digital platforms to organise, exchange support, and strengthen resilience within increasingly platform-mediated labour environments.
Prof Salome R.A. Bukachi, The University of Nairobi (UoN)
This session explores how lessons from the Kilimo na Data initiative and the use of AI-driven solutions can bridge the gap between climate data generation and its practical use by farmers and agripreneurs, enabling more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural development across Africa.
dLab
Dr Godfrey Justo, University of Dar Es Salaam
Steven Prager, Gates Foundation
Stephano Joe
This session explores how feminist-led organisations in Tanzania are building ethical data futures by weaving together data governance, AI ethics, and community-centred technology to advance the rights of women, girls, and marginalized communities.
Navina Mutabazi
Kijana na AI Initiative
Barefoot College Zanzibar
Wajamama
Milele Zanzibar Foundation
This session demonstrates how high-quality, governed, and interoperable data serves as the foundation for effective Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), using Uganda’s Government Digital Registry as a practical case study.
Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda
This session demonstrates how high-quality, governed, and interoperable data serves as the foundation for effective Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), using Uganda’s Government Digital Registry as a practical case study.
Doreen Gift Bujjingo, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda
A space to reflect together on how feminist, decolonial, and Indigenous methodologies can challenge and expand knowledge production on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), centre communities, and open pathways to healing, accountability, justice, and movement building
Tigist Shewarega Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications
Diana Bichanga, Association for Progressive Communications
This session explores how accessible, interoperable, and locally relevant data ecosystems can accelerate African AI innovation across sectors such as agriculture, climate resilience, healthcare, education, and public service delivery.
Saba Tiku, GIZ African Union
Kuuku Sam, GIZ African Union
This session explores how feminist and youth-led approaches can shape ethical, inclusive, and safe digital and data ecosystems in Africa.
Lydia Achieng Odhiambo, Body and Boundaries Africa
The discussion will examine how private sector responses, including data sharing, content moderation, financial restrictions, and surveillance practices, can adopt a do-no-harm and human rights-based approach that avoids unintended impacts on civil society, freedom of expression, privacy, and association.
Catherine Mbui, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
An interactive session that discusses groundbreaking new recent data from CIGI on technology-facilitated gender-based violence and invites participants to frame recommendations towards more inclusive responses to TFGBV, drawing on that data.
Bonnita Nyamwire, Director of Research, Pollicy
An interactive session exploring how Afro-feminist perspectives can reshape data governance toward equity, justice, and grounded digital futures.
ARTICLE 19 West Africa
Day Two
Daphine Nkunda, Global Center on AI Governance
Rebecca Florence Nanono, Shetechtive Uganda
Ivy Gikonyo, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Learn how the MERL Tech Initiative and its NLP Community of Practice help social sector organizations design and evaluate tech-enabled programs responsibly. This session highlights how MERL, AI, and NLP practitioners collaborate, share practical tools, and make complex AI concepts accessible, always centering people, equity, and ethical outcomes for real-world challenges.
The MERL Tech Initiative
Patricia Ainembabazi, Policy and Advocacy Officer, CIPESA
Kuuku Sam, Head, AI Made in Africa project, GIZ African Union
Ernest Mwebaze, Executive Director, Sunbird AI
Solomon Mwije, Instructor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Uganda Christian University
Moderated by;
Vari Magodo-Matimba, AI+ Africa Lead, The MERL Tech Initiative
This interactive session brings together African advocates, technologists, and policymakers to co-create rights-based approaches for platform accountability centered on the ACHPR Resolution 630 Guidelines. During the facilitated dialogue, participants will work together to address online disinformation, bias, and transparency, drawing from local expertise to shape practical, context-driven responses for information integrity across Africa’s digital spaces.
The session is being developed within the framework of the EU-funded project, “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information through the implementation of UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.
Media Monitoring Africa
On behalf of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Honourable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo
Lister Namumba-Rikhotso, Program Manager, Media Monitoring Africa
This session explores how women in African communities can anticipate, adapt to, and shape the tech-driven future of work. Through practical foresight and dialogue, participants will identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for women to thrive in evolving workplaces, ensuring digital growth delivers inclusive, equitable careers for all.
This session examines how technology and AI are changing African elections and increasing online gender-based violence. Participants will share personal stories and explore solutions for safer digital spaces during elections, focusing on platform accountability and policy actions. By the end, you’ll gain practical strategies to protect women in politics and support fairer, more transparent elections.
CcHUB (GoVote)
Eweka Yvonne Ogieomo, Senior Programme Manager, Election and Governance, CcHUB
Brenda Namata, Program Manager, Pollicy
Angela Minayo, Digital Rights and Policy Advisor, ARTICLE 19 East Africa
Khadijah El-Usman, Senior Programmes Officer, Anglophone West Africa, Paradigm Initiative
Judy Karioko, Program Manager, IREX
MacLean Kamusiime, Division Mayor, Kabale Municipality
Join a hands-on training session and learn the basics of game development. Participants will experiment with beginner-friendly tools to create their own simple games, gaining practical digital and creativity skills they can apply in tech or advocacy projects.
Pollicy, Design Without Borders
Neema Iyer, Founder, Pollicy
Abigail Turinayo, Managing Director, Design without Borders Africa
This session unpacks the impact of spyware and surveillance on activism and feminist organizing in Uganda. Participants will learn practical policy findings, share experiences of digital threats, and join a regional conversation on stronger safeguards. You’ll leave equipped with advocacy strategies and real-world recommendations to protect privacy and civic space in East Africa.
Women of Uganda Network, Uganda
David Iribagiza, Women Of Uganda Network
Esther Nyapendi, Women Of Uganda Network
This session explores how Digital Ownership empowers African youth to take control of the data shaping their lives, driving community-led innovation across sectors like service mapping, gender-based violence reporting, and agricultural markets.
This session introduces ACHPR’s Resolution 631 and Africa’s urgent need to rethink access to public service content in the digital era. Attendees will help shape new guidelines that put public interest first, joining consultative dialogues on policy, information integrity, and practical solutions for reliable, community-focused content across Africa’s platforms.
SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (South Africa)
Uyanda Siyotula, National Coordinator, SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition
Juliet Nanfuka, CIPESA
Sandra Aceng, Executive Director, Women of Uganda Network
Discover how youth-led tech communities are powering local digital innovation across Africa. Participants will learn how peer-driven networks build digital skills, foster inclusive solutions, and amplify underrepresented voices offering practical insights to help shape ethical, impactful tech ecosystems.
AWS Club, Makerere University
Ronnie Atuhaire, Co-founder, MpaMpe
Shakiran Nannyombi, Co-Captain, AWS Cloud Club, Makerere University