WITH SUPPORT OF
The project focused on estimating the economic value of cross-border data transfers for Kenya’s economy, particularly the implications of adopting different regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), particularly for strengthening competitiveness in business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing, and the encouragement of investment and higher-value digital services. Caribou partnered with GIZ in Kenya to demonstrate the economic case for trusted cross-border data flows, in the context of Kenya’s data protection framework and alignment with GDPR.
Caribou combined rigorous economic modeling with applied research (including a literature review and stakeholder engagement) to quantify the value of data flows and translate technical findings into actionable insights for policymakers and ecosystem actors. The work was designed to be decision-relevant, showing different options in support of reforms and implementation choices that balance privacy and protection with the practical needs of a growing, internationally connected digital economy.
By pairing analysis with validation and convening, Caribou supported GIZ and the Kenyan Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to align around credible evidence and a shared narrative on why “data without borders” matters for Kenya’s future. The resulting report strengthened the foundation for policy dialogue and stakeholder buy-in, and provided a clear, growth-oriented story about how trusted data flows can enable jobs, productivity, and regional/global integration in Kenya’s digital economy.
