The Lab will accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and equip decision-makers with new technology and training.
New York, NY (23 Sept. 2024) — As the world races to adapt to an unrelenting pace of change, many low-income countries often lack the technical capacity and computing resources necessary to navigate the ascent of AI, combat climate change, and achieve inclusive economic growth. A new collaboration between the Government of Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation (MoDET) and the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), a research hub at the University of California, Berkeley, holds the potential to change that.
The Togo Data Lab will train a cadre of local data scientists in the latest tools and technology and embed them in the national government. The partnership aims to enable MoDET to successfully integrate data science approaches into policy making and create a pathway for a sustainable data science function within the national government. By providing the Ministry with experts, skills, data, and tools, the Data Lab will advance Togo’s sustainable capacity to use novel data sources and data science approaches for developing, deploying, and evaluating the effectiveness of public services.
Led by Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation, the Data Lab will be housed within the Ministry and staffed by a dedicated team of Togolese and international data scientists, based in Lomé, with support from CEGA-affiliated faculty and staff at the University of California, Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara.
“In the last decade, Togo has achieved rapid gains in internet access, mobile penetration, and mobile money use,” said Min. Lawson. “As we approach 2030 and the SDG target, our goal is to transform Togo into a regional and global leader in publicly-led data science innovation — and the Data Lab is critical to our success.”
The Data Lab builds on a collaboration between MoDET, CEGA, and GiveDirectly during the Covid pandemic in which call detail records, satellite imagery, and machine learning (ML) were leveraged to quickly extend Togo’s national cash transfer program, Novissi, to its most vulnerable residents during lockdowns. With the support of CEGA researchers, Novissi provided cash support to 150,000 additional households.
“Novissi was a catalyst that accelerated the application of big data to deliver emergency support to people in need quickly, equitably, and inexpensively,” said Carson Christiano, Executive Director of CEGA. “It’s also a great example of how CEGA collaborates with in-country partners to improve lives by realizing the full potential of new data science tools.”
In its first year, the Data Lab will integrate MOSAIKS — a low-cost, streamlined tool for drawing insights from satellite imagery and machine learning — into day-to-day policy decision-making. Designed by CEGA researchers, MOSAIKS democratizes access to data science tools by automating the process of structuring remote sensing data for use in predictive models.
After developing a basic data infrastructure and training Lab members on MOSAIKS, the Data Lab will explore use cases that integrate data-driven insights into policy making and service delivery. The first planned use case will institutionalize MOSAIKS within the Ministry of Agriculture and enable it to use predictive models, enhancing agricultural policy and productivity to benefit the lives of rural Togolese citizens. Subsequent use cases include informing electrical grid extension, modeling demand for access to clean water and high speed internet, and monitoring deforestation — all priority areas where the Government of Togo has signaled it needs more evidence.
About MoDET
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation of the Togolese Republic is responsible for crafting and implementing policies that drive the growth of the technology sector in Togo. Under the leadership of Minister Cina Lawson since 2013, the Ministry has pioneered initiatives to modernize Togo’s digital infrastructure, enhance digital literacy, and bridge the digital divide. One of its key achievements is the Togo Digital Strategy 2025, a comprehensive roadmap designed to position the country as a leader in digital transformation in West Africa, with a focus on innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion. This strategy aims to drive digital adoption across all sectors, ensuring the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
About CEGA
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is a hub for research, training, and innovation headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. The Center generates insights that leaders can use to improve policies, programs, and people’s lives. Its academic network includes more than 160 faculty, 82 scholars from low- and middle-income countries, and hundreds of graduate students — from diverse academic disciplines around the world — that produce rigorous evidence about what works to expand education, health, and economic opportunities for people living in poverty.
Media Contacts
MoDET
Kô Goma
Strategic Advisor to the Minister
CEGA
Matthew Kertman
Director of Strategic Communications
