Wednesday 8 October, 2025, 12h00-13h30 CET (10h00-11h30 UTC)

This Webinar on the topic of Decolonising Data: Towards Equitable Data Governance and Knowledge Production in Science and Research is a special edition of the Ethical Data Discussion Series. The Series is a collaborative initiative between the Association of African Universities, the Ethical Data Initiative (the University of Exeter and the Technical University of Munich) and the University of Nottingham; with input from De Montfort University and UM6P. The series is dedicated to addressing ethical issues in data-driven research and Higher Education, providing a platform for critical discussion among researchers, educators, policymakers, and community advocates. Its primary aim is to explore complex topics such as data equity and power imbalances, with the goal of fostering a more just and locally empowered approach to knowledge creation.

In an era increasingly shaped by data, a critical challenge has emerged: ensuring that the benefits of data-driven research are distributed equitably, particularly in the context of global collaborations. Despite the promise of open science, contemporary research practices often perpetuate a modern phenomenon of asymmetric data relationships, where valuable information from some regions is utilised in ways that do not fully benefit the communities that generated it. This dynamic can lead to significant structural imbalances that have historical parallels in resource management.

The digital age has seen an unbalanced flow of valuable information—from social media interactions to genomic data—where control and equitable benefit-sharing do not always return to the communities involved. This can limit the growth of local scientific capacity, restrict the participation of indigenous researchers, and perpetuate a cycle where African scholars may have limited roles in leading analysis and publication.

The systemic issues are varied, including disparities in research partnerships, which can be challenging to align with local needs and priorities; uneven data utilisation, where valuable datasets are used to develop technologies without transparent or fair agreements; and knowledge imbalances, which can undervalue local perspectives and restrict institutions from shaping their own scientific narratives.

Addressing these challenges requires a fundamental shift in approach. The concept of data sovereignty provides a powerful framework, moving beyond simple data ownership to assert the right of nations, communities, and individuals to govern their own data in alignment with their values, priorities, and aspirations. This perspective challenges the dominance of external actors who often extract and exploit data without adequate accountability or reciprocity. Instead, it emphasises that data should serve as a strategic asset for local empowerment, innovation, and self-determination.

Achieving this vision entails developing ethical data governance models that are not imposed from the outside but are instead locally led, inclusive, and culturally sensitive. Such models must recognise the diverse ways in which communities understand knowledge, consent, and collective benefit, ensuring that governance structures reflect local realities rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

It also necessitates the implementation of robust national and regional policies that safeguard data rights across multiple dimensions, which include but are not limited to privacy, security, accessibility, and control. These policies should be designed to resist exploitative practices, while simultaneously fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange through open science initiatives that operate on truly equitable terms. Importantly, data sovereignty calls for the establishment of fair benefit-sharing agreements, ensuring that the value generated from data, whether scientific, economic, or social, flows back to the communities and countries from which it originates.

Embedding data sovereignty into practice, therefore, requires a balance between protecting data as a collective resource and enabling its responsible use for global progress. This shift in approach reframes data not as a commodity to be extracted, but as a shared foundation for empowerment, resilience, and sustainable development. 

Ultimately, achieving a more just and ethical data ecosystem requires a constructive dialogue among all stakeholders—researchers, policymakers, and community advocates—to ensure that the power of data is used to serve the interests of all and advance truly inclusive knowledge production.

Speakers

Gitanjali Yadav is a senior scientist at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in New Delhi and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Data Science at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal. She specializes in genomics and structural bioinformatics, focusing on applications in food security and ecosystem conservation. She was the first recipient of the DBT-Cambridge Lectureship, a joint program between the University of Cambridge and India’s Department of Biotechnology, during which she contributed to the establishment of the Cambridge-India Research Foundation.

Professor Yadav has received many accolades, including the Hamied Fellowship from the University of Cambridge in 2019, the Exceptional Talent Award from the Royal Society of London in 2017 and the Women’s Excellence Award from India’s Ministry of Science and Technology in 2014. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Dr. Yadav is dedicated to promoting science education among underprivileged students in rural India, especially young girls. She has served as a mentor for the British Ecological Society’s Women in Science Program and as an ambassador for Indian women in science through various international platforms.

Pascal Mwakio is a recognised voice in the field of Data Ethics and its intersection with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data.

Dr. Mwakio’s work focuses on developing innovative frameworks for responsible data science, including co-authoring the “African Data Ethics Framework.” This framework advocates for a pluralistic and decolonial approach to data governance in AI and other data-driven systems, centering African voices and interdisciplinary scholarship.

Kutoma Wakunuma is Associate Professor of Information Systems at De Montfort University. An expert in ethical technology, Professor Wakunuma focuses on bridging the perspectives of the Global North and Global South. Her influential work includes co-authoring books such as Trustworthy AI and Responsible AI in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. She is committed to developing inclusive and responsible AI systems that respect privacy, data protection, and diverse cultural contexts.

Professor Wakunuma plays a critical role in global AI governance, serving as an ethics advisor to the European Commission and a member of UNESCO’s Women for Ethical AI initiative. Her policy contributions extend to advising the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and contributing to national AI strategies. She was recognised as one of the 2025 Top 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics by Women in AI Ethics, a not-for-profit organisation that champions the representation and empowerment of women in AI.

Guest Speaker: Evelyn Chiyevo Garwe Professor Garwe is a spokesperson for the Association of African Universities and Associate Dean at the Mahommed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco. She is an expert in education, quality assurance, and strategic planning, and agriculture with 30 years of experience and over 100 publications. Her transdisciplinary background and leadership in development cooperation initiatives across Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific inform her work in building resilient education systems through responsible research and innovation.

Evelyn previously served as the Deputy CEO of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and her experience includes roles as Dean of Agricultural Sciences at Chinhoyi University of Technology and the Women’s University in Africa. She is a fellow of the Pan African Institute of Development, a member of several professional societies, and has held leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe.

Moderator: Kathryn Bailey is a Professor of Research Governance Partnerships at the University of Exeter and also serves as Operations Director at the Ethical Data Initiative.