Apply Now: Data Governance in Africa Research Fund Program

Deadline: 11-Mar-25

The Data Governance in Africa Research Fund is looking to recruit four African-based researchers to undertake research that will respond to current data governance trends in the region.

Researchers will work with the Mozilla 2025 Senior Africa fellow to each produce and share findings across different stakeholder groups.

The framework aims to boost the development of human rights respecting, sustainable and inclusive data-driven economies through the creation of a common data space and interoperable data governance mechanisms.

Applicants should be confident writers or researchers and demonstrate previous experience of studying or working on internet and/or technology policy processes in the region. This could include journals, news articles, blogs, and opinion pieces in either professional, academic, or activist publications.

Scope

• This research series will serve as a resource that will assist African Union member states to implement responsive data policies. Applicants may choose to focus on no more than two of the continent’s five sub regions – East, West, South, Central and North Africa. They can select to study up to two countries in one region or up to four countries across no more than two regions. The research methods under this project are expected to incorporate a human rights based approach.
• Researchers may:
  • highlight or evaluate existing data governance initiatives, practices or programmes in order to assess their impact and inform up scaling strategies.
  • highlight and connect cross-cutting data justice issues such as gender equality, economic and labour rights or environmental or climate change
  • explore existing policies that promote the competition, trade or taxation objectives outlined in regional or continental agreements.

Focus Areas

• For this call, they welcome proposals which respond to one of the following areas:
  • Legitimate and trustworthy data systems: What existing standards or practices are ideal for a rights respecting data environment? Who are the new and old actors or institutions? What is their role?
  • Public value of data: How can data value be collectively defined? What data models i.e. open, shared or closed can governments use to optimise public value? What capacity exists in public institutions to eciently and securely manage data in order to meet national development goals?
  • Harmonizing sector policies to enhance data value: What existing public sector policies e.g. health, education, finance etc must be revised or formulated to align to the AU-DPF principles?
  • Optimizing innovation: What best practice regulatory measures or systems support sustainable innovation at national, regional or continental levels? Who are the key actors?

Funding Information

• Four research grants of $10,000 USD, each, will be made to support the production of the reports and the dissemination of the research findings to key stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must meet the following requirements:
  • Be individuals, networks, and/or organizations that are based in Africa
  • Be legally able to receive funds in the form of grants from the Mozilla Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Selection Criteria

• The criteria for reviewing applications will consider the following:
  • Geographic location
  • Applicant experience in the internet, AI and digital technology sector in Africa
  • Applicant familiarity with national or regional contexts, clear articulation of the data justice issue
  • Clearly defined methodology and impact, research plan, and budget.

For more information, visit Mozilla Foundation.