Why Data Sovereignty Is the Missing Key to Africa's Economic Future

Data sovereignty has become essential for Africa's economic future, enabling governments to collect and analyze reliable information about their economies. Despite the collection of vast amounts of tax data, much of it remains unexplored, limiting governments' ability to design effective policies. The UNU-WIDER model of secure research data labs in South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia has shown how responsible access to data can transform governance and inform discussions on tax system design.