EAC Moves to Harmonise Cross-Border Data Flows to Advance Regional Digital Economy

The East African Community (EAC)  has taken a major step toward building a trusted and integrated regional digital economy by convening a five-day validation workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to review a harmonised framework for cross-border data flows.

Running from 23 to 27 June 2026, the workshop brings together data protection experts from EAC Partner States to validate a proposed Cross-Border Data Flows Framework. The initiative aims to facilitate the secure, lawful, and accountable movement of data across the region while protecting privacy, strengthening trust, and supporting digital trade.

The proposed framework seeks to establish common standards for cross-border data transfers, promote interoperability among national data protection systems, and improve cooperation between regulators. It is also designed to reduce compliance costs for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions while ensuring that citizens’ personal data remains protected.

The EAC said secure cross-border data flows are increasingly critical to regional integration, underpinning digital services such as mobile money, e-commerce, telemedicine, online education, digital government platforms, and cross-border trade. However, differing national data protection laws and regulatory approaches continue to create barriers for businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which often struggle to comply with multiple regulatory regimes.

Participants at the workshop are reviewing recommendations from national consultations conducted across all EAC Partner States and identifying priorities for implementing the harmonised framework. Expected outcomes include agreement on common data governance principles, stronger regional coordination, and a roadmap for implementation.

The initiative forms part of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), a World Bank-supported programme that seeks to accelerate the development of a Single Digital Market across East Africa through harmonised digital policies, trusted digital infrastructure, and enhanced regional cooperation.

Once finalized, the framework is expected to strengthen digital trade, support innovation and investment, improve public service delivery, and enable businesses and citizens to access secure digital services seamlessly across the East African Community.