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On April 17, 2025, UNESCO, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened an online Data Governance Stakeholder Consultation, which brought together 97 policymakers, technologists, and industry representatives from the Gulf region, Egypt, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen. The consultation served as a key milestone in the development of the Data Governance Toolkit: A Roadmap for Navigating Data in the Digital Age, a resource designed to support countries in establishing actionable data governance frameworks that balance data innovation with ethical, interoperable and inclusive governance in the context of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The consultation featured a presentation of the Toolkit’s draft, followed by in-depth breakout sessions that addressed national and regional challenges in data governance, capacity gaps, and opportunities for multistakeholder collaboration. Discussions focused on emerging concerns such as AI-driven data complexity, regulatory misalignment surrounding cross-border data flows, and the need for harmonized governance approaches across countries and sectors.

The Data Governance Toolkit, which is scheduled for official launch in June 2025 during the UNESCO Conference on Capacity Building on AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, aims to offer practical, adaptable guidance for national policymakers and regulators. Covering topics such as the data lifecycle, AI governance, and interoperability, the Toolkit also includes real-world case studies and implementation roadmaps to assist countries at different levels of governance maturity in developing context-sensitive policy frameworks.

In the welcoming speech, Salah Khaled, Director of UNESCO regional office for Gulf States and Yemen emphasized that “In the digital age, data governance is not only about technical regulation, but also about trust, dignity and the ability to promote equitable digital opportunities.” 

Feedback and recommendations gathered during the consultation will directly inform the finalization of the Toolkit, which will be directly utilized to refine the final draft of the Data Governance Toolkit, which will then be applied in pilot regions such as Africa, ASEAN, the Gulf States and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), contributing to the building of a more inclusive, just and sustainable data governance ecosystem globally.