Partnerships, led by the AfDB, promote SDMX usage across Africa, aiming to enhance data reliability and open data customs.
Africa Advances Data Modernization and Open Data Practices at SDMX Regional Workshop
In July 2025, the African Development Bank (AfDB) held a week-long Regional Workshop on Statistical Data and Metadata exchange (SDMX) and the Bank's Open Data Platform 2.0 (ODP 2.0) in Addis Ababa. The event, which took place from 21 to 25 July, marked a significant step forward in Africa's efforts to modernize statistical data exchange and strengthen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) monitoring and reporting across the continent.
The workshop was convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with the AfDB and the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS-UK), with support from a Eurostat grant aimed at improving SDG data-sharing. Since the adoption of the official SDG Data Structure Definition (DSD) in 2019, SDMX has become a widely adopted standard for automated data and metadata exchange in Africa.
Five pilot countries — Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe — are currently implementing SDMX for SDG data and preparing for full national SDG dissemination platforms. These countries shared their experiences and best practices during the workshop. The objectives of the workshop included fostering peer learning among pilot countries, introducing tools to non-pilot countries, and promoting sustainability in data modernization efforts.
The AfDB and partners have been actively supporting SDMX adoption since at least July 2025 through training and capacity-building events. The workshop demonstrated Africa's progress in advancing open data practices, with more than 40 participants from 16 countries and delegates from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, Paris21, and four regional institutions in attendance.
Beyond SDMX, there is also a continent-wide push to integrate open data platforms with early warning systems and climate resilience data, enhancing Africa's capability to manage various developmental and environmental challenges. The event reaffirmed the commitment of AfDB, UNECA, and STATAFRIC to accelerate the adoption of SDMX in Africa.
The latest Open Data Inventory (ODIN) 2024-2025 report, covering 197 countries, was published in April 2025. Ten African countries scored above 60 out of 100 in the ODIN 2024-2025 report, up from just two in 2020. The adoption of SDMX by African countries is expected to boost the reliability and comparability of official statistics across the continent.
The milestone workshop showcases Africa's progress in advancing open data practices with the support of the AfDB. The event aimed to enhance data management and dissemination in support of evidence-based policymaking. Closer collaboration with Regional Economic Communities was pledged to ensure efficient implementation across member countries.
Three African countries - Morocco, Burkina Faso, and Senegal - exceeded 70 out of 100, placing them among the world's top 35 performers. This progress underscores Africa's commitment to data modernization and open data practices, with the workshop serving as a testament to the growing momentum among African countries and institutions to modernize data ecosystems and drive inclusive development through better, more accessible data.
References:
[1] African Development Bank Group. (2025). SDMX Regional Workshop. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/events/sdmx-regional-workshop
[2] United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. (2025). SDMX Regional Workshop. Retrieved from https://www.uneca.org/events/sdmx-regional-workshop-2025
[3] African Development Bank Group. (2025). Strengthening Statistical Capacity in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/sdmx-and-open-data-platform-2-0-in-africa
[4] African Development Bank Group. (2025). Integrating Open Data Platforms with Early Warning Systems and Climate Resilience Data. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/integrating-open-data-platforms-with-early-warning-systems-and-climate-resilience-data
- The workshop, attended by delegates from various international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, Paris21, and four regional institutions, highlighted Africa's progress in fostering collaboration within the finance and business sectors, particularly in the area of technology, as seen in the adoption and implementation of open data platforms.
- As the latest Open Data Inventory (ODIN) report indicates, ten African countries have demonstrated significant improvement in open data practices, scoring above 60 out of 100, a progression that signals the continent's dedication to modernizing its data ecosystems, thereby enhancing general-news reporting and evidence-based policymaking in various sectors, including technology, finance, and business.
