Much of Africa’s data is collected on the continent but analysed and monetised elsewhere, leaving African institutions with limited control over the knowledge generated from their own resources.
Researchers and policymakers are now calling for greater investment in local research infrastructure, stronger data governance and partnerships that ensure the continent benefits from its knowledge and scientific discoveries.
The call was made during the third Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposium (AHDARS 2026), convened by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).
The meeting brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and innovators to explore how Africa can strengthen its capacity to generate and use data to inform policies and address development challenges.
Held under the theme, “Building African-Centered Data and Knowledge Systems: New Models, New Power. What Can Be Done Differently? ” the symposium focused on ownership, access and the role of African institutions in shaping research priorities.
Dr Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of APHRC, said Africa must deliberately harness its data and knowledge resources rather than allow others to control and benefit from them.
“Data and knowledge are Africa’s oil. And so the question is: do we let that oil become a curse to the African continent?
