Kenyan Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait has called on Data Protection Officers (DPOs) to adopt coordinated actions, share information and harmonise approaches to address data protection challenges, including cybersecurity and fragmented regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions.
She made these remarks during the Data Protection Officer Humanitarian Action Certification Course, which included representatives from 16 nationalities.
Kassait emphasised that through collaboration, continuous dialogue and capacity building, industry players can strengthen collective resilience and ensure data protection remains central to humanitarian action.
She highlighted the necessity of strong cooperation and sustained engagement among all stakeholders, including humanitarian organisations, regulators, technology partners, donors and, importantly, the affected populations themselves.
Furthermore, Kassait urged DPOs to continually raise awareness among affected communities about how their data is collected, used, shared and protected, noting this is essential for promoting transparency and informed participation.
“Meaningful engagement helps build trust, empowers individuals to exercise their rights and reinforces accountability within humanitarian operations,” she said.
Additionally, she called on humanitarian DPOs to uphold the highest standards of accountability, transparency and integrity in handling personal data, especially in today’s interconnected global environment. She stated:
“Technologies deployed to enhance humanitarian action have advanced significantly. While these innovations bring greater efficiency and reach, they also introduce new and evolving risks.”
The event was supported by the European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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