DataFest Africa is an event that seeks to celebrate data use in the East African region by bringing together various stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, such as government, civil society, donors, academics, students and private industry experts, under one roof and theme.
DataFest Africa 2025 will mark the 6th edition of this premier data festival, building on the successes of previous data festivals held in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
This year, we want to shift that perspective by focusing on how data can work for the growth and benefit of African local communities. We will witness and document how micro-businesses, community leaders, teachers, youth groups, artists, and grassroots communities are using data to safeguard neighbourhoods, employ citizen science to map and monitor local needs, boost local economies, and spark social change.
Key thematic areas
DataFest Africa 2025 will feature 3 tracks carefully curated to advance and give the community a feel of a human-centred, Afro-feminist approach to data, technology, and governance.
Track 1: Innovation, Technology and the Future
Track 2: Digital Safety, Economy and Resilience
Track 3: Data, Equity, and Society
DataFest Africa 2025 will equip all stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and partnerships needed to:
- Make data work for communities, not just institutions.
- Reclaim and govern digital identities in fair, transparent ways.
- Harness technology to empower, rather than exploit, African people.
