EU proud to support Eswatini in developing national data policy

EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, said this on 29 April 2026 in Mbabane during the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop to help create the national data policy for the Kingdom.

In his speech, Ambassador Mecklenburg said this exercise was not only critical for effective policymaking and service delivery but also for ensuring that data becomes a tool for inclusive growth and democratic accountability.

EU in Eswatini

“By creating a national data policy that balances innovation with rights and sovereignty with collaboration, you are building a strong foundation for the digital economy,” said the Ambassador.

The EU, its Member States and GIZ are supporting this exercise through the Data Governance in Africa Initiative, which aims to promote data policies aligned with the African Union Data Policy Framework, strengthen national capacities to manage data as a public good and to foster inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue on how data should be collected, used and protected.

Furthermore, the assistance supports the development of sectoral data protection guidelines for the finance and health sectors and the development of a whistleblowing mechanism for data protection.

Speaking on the same occasion, the Minister of ICT, Savannah Maziya, highlighted that the development of the national data policy seeks to ensure that Eswatini is one of the safest places in the world to store data.

Other speakers included representatives from GIZ and Smart Africa.