Transboundary Data Flows Across East Africa
Environmental risks such as floods, droughts and wildfires move across borders, but the data needed to respond is often fragmented, delayed or difficult to share. Working with UNEP and GIZ, the project explored how Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda could strengthen cross-border environmental data sharing through clearer governance, common standards and better coordination between institutions. The work drew on 119 datasets, 16 national laws and Acts, 40 research contributors, 90 organizational assessments and three country design labs involving 64 practitioners.
Environmental risks such as floods, droughts and wildfires move across borders, but the data needed to respond is often fragmented, delayed or difficult to share. Working with UNEP and GIZ, the project explored how Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda could strengthen cross-border environmental data sharing through clearer governance, common standards and better coordination between institutions. The work drew on 119 datasets, 16 national laws and Acts, 40 research contributors, 90 organizational assessments and three country design labs involving 64 practitioners.
"The biggest barriers were not purely technical. The research showed that unclear rules, fragmented institutional mandates, trust gaps, incompatible data formats and slow approval processes were major reasons environmental data failed to move quickly enough. This shifted the focus from simply building new tools to designing the governance, standards and operating models that allow data to be shared and acted on with confidence."
Our Approach
We used systems mapping, research, institutional analysis to understand how environmental data moves from collection to sharing, uptake and action. The work included technical and legal reviews, interviews and surveys, stakeholder mapping, country design labs, and a regional workshop bringing together government, regional bodies, academia, civil society and private-sector actors. The process helped identify where data flows were breaking down and shaped the design direction for EA-READY, a regional early-warning tool focused on faster and more coordinated cross-border data exchange.
Outputs & Results
Measurable outcomes achieved through the programme's core activities.
Environmental datasets assessed
National Laws and Acts Reviewed
Organizational assessments completed
Practitioners engaged across three country design labs
Project Outcome & Impact
A regional evidence base covering 119 datasets and 16 national laws and Acts A validated framework of seven systemic barriers to environmental data sharing Three country design labs across Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda A regional co-design workshop involving government and ecosystem stakeholders The design direction for EA-READY, an early-warning system targeting faster cross-border alerts Proposed regional mechanisms including common data standards, a Trusted-Broker model, a Technical Working Group and an Environmental Data Fellowship Programme
