Transboundary Data Flows - UNEP, GIZ, Action Lab
Architect and operationalize a regional framework for seamless, secure, and interoperable exchange of environmental intelligence across East Africa—breaking down legal, political, and institutional silos so that critical hydro-met and agricultural risk data can move across borders fast enough to support proactive, evidence-based regional climate resilience. This includes standardising 119+ priority datasets and aligning 16 national legislative contexts to enable trusted cross-border data sharing.
IDI's Role & Contribution
IDI served as the systems-design and governance partner—convening multi-country stakeholders, translating complex technical and legal realities into shared problem definitions, and co-designing the disciplined backbone for regional data exchange. IDI led end-to-end process design and facilitation, supported development of interoperability and data standardisation requirements, structured governance instruments, synthesised evidence into decision-ready outputs.
Our Approach
A systemic Evidence-to-Action cycle: deep systems mapping (technical infrastructure audits + legal feasibility reviews) to identify choke points; strategic prototyping through co-creation design labs to develop politically viable, technically feasible governance and operating instruments (including fast-track disaster alert clauses); and embedded capacity building to institutionalise adoption through trained subnational officers and implementers.
Outputs & Results
Measurable outcomes achieved through the programme's core activities.
COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING
Project Outcome & Impact
A replicable model for transboundary environmental data governance that strengthens regional trust and coordination, contributes to broader African data sovereignty efforts, and improves readiness for climate shocks by enabling faster, more reliable cross-border information flows designed to compress emergency response timelines (e.g., toward <15 minutes for alerts) while protecting livelihoods and supporting cooperative management of shared natural resources.
Partners
As we work to scale health systems across Africa, we are proud to partner with leading national and global organizations.
![UNEP](\"/static/images/partners/unep.ce251100a61e.webp\")
![GIZ](\"/static/images/partners/challenge-works.8703a9141cad.webp\")