• The Senegalese Data Protection Commission (CDP) partnered with the Pan-African NGO Paradigm Initiative (PIN) to enhance digital education, privacy protection, and awareness in Africa.
• The collaboration will involve joint awareness campaigns, capacity-building workshops, and training for public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society.
• The partnership addresses challenges in Senegal's data protection culture and aligns with regional efforts to improve digital rights and security.
  

Senegal's Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (CDP) announced Monday a strategic memorandum of understanding with the Pan-African non-governmental organization Paradigm Initiative (PIN), on the sidelines of the African Network of Personal Data Protection Authorities (RAPDP) General Assembly in Abuja. The partnership aims to strengthen awareness, digital education, and privacy protection amid the continent's rapid digital transformation.

"The government, the private sector, civil society, and the media must collaborate so that we can make the most of the digital economy. We cannot continue to talk about the digital economy without protecting it," said Gbenga Sesan (photo, center), the executive director of the NGO.

The collaboration will involve joint awareness campaigns, including information drives, capacity-building workshops, and training sessions targeting public institutions, the private sector, and civil society. The overarching goal is to embed a culture of data protection at both the national and sub-regional levels.

PIN, which operates in six African nations – Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – brings its expertise in advocating for digital rights to this partnership. The NGO also operates an online platform where individuals can report instances of abuse or unauthorized use of their personal data.

In Senegal, this collaboration coincides with the increasing digitization of public and private services, a trend supported by national policies aimed at leveraging digital technology for development. However, a robust data protection culture has yet to fully develop. While Law No. 2008-12 on personal data provides a legal framework, its full implementation is hindered by a lack of technical resources, training, and awareness within institutions and among the general public. Despite its active role, the CDP faces challenges in addressing all issues arising from the proliferation of digital platforms and the massive collection of data.

Across the African continent, the state of data protection is varied. According to the 2025 Yellow Card report, 39 of the 55 African countries now have personal data protection legislation in place. However, the enforcement of these laws differs significantly. While some nations, such as Morocco, South Africa, and Kenya, have active and well-structured regulatory authorities, others lack the necessary human and financial resources or independence, limiting their capacity to act effectively. Furthermore, the ratification of the Malabo Convention on cybersecurity and data protection, which entered into force in 2023, represents notable progress, although its implementation remains inconsistent.

Given these shared challenges, regional collaborations, such as the partnership between the Senegalese CDP and Paradigm Initiative, are seen as crucial for pooling resources, harmonizing practices, and fostering a digital environment that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of rights.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji