Session
Government of Papua New Guinea
Government of Papua New Guinea
Chelsea Horne, Academia, Western European and Others Group Nancy Kanasa, Government, Asia Pacific Luca Belli, Academia, Latin America and the Caribbean Lillian Nalwoga, African Group Sara Kiden, African Group
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Targets: 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Roundtable
The round table format is best suited for this session because it encourages open dialogue, diverse perspectives, and active participation. Interactive and Inclusive Discussion – Instead of a one-way presentation, the session fosters engagement between speakers at the table and participants in the audience, enabling collaborative problem-solving
This session will explore the current state of data governance in the public sector of developing third-world countries, highlighting the need for an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach that engages government, civil society, the private sector, and academia. While many countries have data governance frameworks, they often focus primarily on government institutions, leading to gaps in interoperability, collaboration, and policy standardization.Through case studies from other countries, with a specific use case from Papua New Guinea, session speakers will highlight challenges, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening public sector data governance by breaking data silos, fostering collaboration, and improving policy implementation. The discussion will showcase innovative approaches such as centralized data governance bodies for oversight, interoperable data-sharing platforms, standardized frameworks for data security and ethics, and adaptive governance models that cater to diverse institutional needs. Best practices, including capacity-building programs, public-private data partnerships, and real-time data analytics for decision-making, will be explored to ensure governance models are effective, scalable, and tailored to each country’s unique digital landscape.
Real-time moderation, live Q&A, and using digital collaboration tools.A dedicated moderator will facilitate discussions, ensuring equal participation from both onsite and online attendeesIinteractive tools for live polling and audience questions.Online participants can submit questions in real-time via chat, which will be addressed .to speakers directly or as open questions which the moderator can direct the question to the right speaker.
Report
Substantial Summary Report
Enhancing Data Governance in the Public Sector
Event: Pacific Internet Governance Forum Date & Time: [Insert Date], 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Moderated by: Judith Hellerstein, Department of ICT, Government of Papua New Guinea Contributors:
-
Prof. Luca Belli – FGV Law School, Brazil
-
Dr. Chelsea Horn – American University, USA
-
Ms. Nancy Kanasha – PNG Department of ICT
-
International and regional participants online
I. Purpose & Context
This session explored strategies for building resilient, rights-respecting, and inclusive data governance frameworks across Pacific public sectors. Against the backdrop of rapid digital transformation and global policy momentum—such as the 20th Global IGF in Norway—Pacific nations are now defining their own paths toward ethical, sovereign, and impactful data governance.
II. Thematic Overview
1. Global Anchoring: Insights from BRICS & IGF Discourse
-
Data governance must uphold human rights—privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from surveillance.
-
Prof. Belli emphasized that effective governance is not just regulatory; it must be operationalized through local investment, innovation, and infrastructure.
-
Brazil's paradox: despite strong legislation and service digitization, gaps remain due to capacity limitations and fragmented implementation.
-
Global South countries must pursue digital sovereignty—the ability to understand, develop, and regulate data and technologies independently.
2. Ethical Foundations: The Five Pillars of Data Governance
Dr. Horn offered five guiding pillars:
-
Who owns and stewards data
-
What actions are permitted with data
-
When and under what conditions data is accessed
-
How data is stored, processed, and secured
-
How well governance is monitored and enforced
She stressed that robust governance enables not just protection, but accountability, open data access, and innovation.
3. Pacific Case Study: Papua New Guinea’s Journey
Ms. Kanasa shared PNG’s pioneering national initiative:
-
The 2024 National Data Governance and Data Protection Policy was built around GDPR principles like transparency, data minimization, and purpose limitation.
-
PNG is considering the Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) for global alignment.
-
A Secure Data Exchange Platform is now piloting online government services.
-
PNG’s efforts include forming a National Data Governance Steering Committee to support cross-agency coordination.
Challenges:
-
Siloed systems and weak interoperability
-
Minimal civil society engagement in policymaking
-
Confusion between infrastructure and governance concepts
-
Public resistance to change and limited awareness
Kanasa stressed the urgency of multistakeholder collaboration, inclusive consultation, and culturally grounded policy design.
III. Additional Insights
4. Infrastructure & Sovereignty Barriers
-
AI development is increasingly tied to computational power and data infrastructure—areas where Global South countries often lack autonomy.
-
Reliance on platforms like AWS and Google Cloud undermines true sovereignty.
-
Prof. Belli warned: legislation without infrastructure control is insufficient; countries must reframe data governance as economic opportunity, not just compliance.
5. Low-Cost Capacity Building & Standardization
-
Dr. Horn recommended affordable starting points:
-
Structured frameworks and role clarity
-
Terminology standardization for data consistency
-
Accessible training (e.g., ITU courses) across sectors
-
These measures improve data quality, implementation consistency, and trust.
6. Addressing Cultural Resistance
-
Pacific governments often face departmental reluctance to share data.
-
Kanasa noted in PNG, laws are sometimes used to resist interoperability despite mutual benefits.
-
Changing this requires awareness campaigns, public education, and leadership to demonstrate value.
IV. Conclusions & Recommendations
Key Takeaways:
-
Data governance is foundational to Pacific digital transformation.
-
Legal frameworks must be supported by infrastructure, culture change, and public trust.
-
Multistakeholder governance is not optional—it’s essential for legitimacy and resilience.
Recommendations:
-
Develop sovereign infrastructure to reduce external dependency.
-
Frame governance as a tool for economic development and community empowerment.
-
Embed inclusive participation across civil society, academia, and private sectors.
-
Launch regional mechanisms for peer learning, resource sharing, and policy co-creation.
-
Prioritize awareness and education to build a culture of trust and transparency.
