edx assignment on data for better lives with challenges in my community. Changes that data use has can bring with few data policies in my country

1. 1. Something important that you have learned during this course that examines the use of data for
development purposes in the context of your own work or community setting.
In the 21st Century data is the new oil and countries cannot afford to ignore the facts that things
have changed over the past few years. If anything with the coming of COVID pandemic we learnt
that we are just one world divided with boundaries and information sharing is very important. We
saw how nations without COVID statistics were rated in terms of safety, resource allocation was
also difficult.
Data can improve people’s lives in many ways however, economic and political factors play a very
important role. It can either prevent from data being shared equitably hence disadvantage the
people of that country. For a nation to develop they need to use data but development data is highly
untapped. A country have to realize the value by repeatedly and repurposing data in a creative
ways to promote economic and social development. The challenge however with most developing
countries is how to prevent misuse of data and safeguard as they exchange with different parties.
If this can be addressed it will enable data to be created, reused and repurposed.
All countries will need a strong data governance, framework that has appropriate policies, laws,
regulation and institutions to unable full value is realized and shared safely and equally. Countries
with strong frameworks have better data governance frameworks, policies and also committed to
financing nation statistic for easier integration with International data systems with well layered
pillars.
2. A proposed solution which can convey how the use of data has changed and is changing the
development landscape and what policies your country governments have/can have to support
a culture of data.
Counties can no longer afford to make decisions without data as this will result in resource
wastage. For example the electricity generating and supply company in Zambia have been under
attack as it depends on customers to report the faults and share location or nearest known point.
Imagine what can happen if the company can develop a mobile app that is linked to the person’s
location coordinates and type of fault. This would save the country money spent in driving around
trying to locate the client’s house and also turnaround time. Recently, it took 6 days for the same
company to solve a national power cut caused by early torrential rains. In other ways this
demonstrate how government department data is not integrated as this might have been afford by
using information from national metrological department to predict the weather focus and
prevention measures were going to be put.
Zambia which is among many developing countries in Africa, equally has developed a number of
data protection policies, legislations and laws that govern data. For example the list below
comprises some of the mention;

2.  Data protection Bill Number: N.A.B. No 28 of 2020
 The Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill, 2021
 Zambia National ICT Policy that aims to use ICTs in contributing to the national objectives
of providing an innovative and productive education and training systems accessible to all
citizens for creation of a knowledge based Zambian society
 Information & Communications Technologies Act of 2009,
 Electronic Communications and Transactions Act of 2009 for the development and
operation of a safe, secure and effective environment for electronic transactions
 Independent Broadcasting Authority Act of 2007. This one though has been abused by
politicians to close TV and Radio stations that say anything against the government in the
past
 Computer Misuse and Crimes Act of 2004 that prohibits any unauthorized access, uses or
interferences with computer based systems
As stated above, lack of coordination and insufficient communication are one of the main issues.
While the Vision 2030, the Fifth National Development Plan 2004, and the National ICT Policy
2007, all provide for the necessary policy guidance on provision of ICTs and establishment of an
information society and economy, what seems lacking is a productive multi-stakeholder dialogue
to facilitate development of inter-sectorial policies and strategies to guide policy implementation
by different ministries, government agencies and civil society.

3. 3. A proposed solution which can convey how the use of data has changed and is changing the
development landscape and what policies your country governments have/can have to
support a culture of data.