Course Summary:

This Magna Skills course provides a comprehensive understanding of data protection principles, privacy compliance, and information governance in public sector and non-profit organizations. As data becomes increasingly valuable and regulated, this course equips professionals with the knowledge and tools to safeguard sensitive information, comply with international and national data protection laws (such as GDPR and POPIA), and foster a culture of trust and accountability within their institutions.

Participants will gain practical skills on handling personal and organizational data securely, conducting risk assessments, developing privacy policies, and responding to data breaches—ensuring that government and NGO operations remain transparent, ethical, and compliant.

Course Objectives:

• By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand key principles and global standards of data protection and privacy (including GDPR, POPIA, and other African frameworks).

  2. Identify and manage data protection risks within their departments or organizations.

  3. Develop and implement internal data protection and privacy policies.

  4. Strengthen institutional accountability and ensure compliance with legal and donor requirements.

  5. Apply best practices in secure data handling, breach response, and information lifecycle management.

Course Outline

1. Introduction to Data Protection and Privacy

   • Importance of privacy in modern governance

   • Overview of data protection laws and principles

2. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

   • Understanding GDPR, POPIA, and regional privacy laws

   • Compliance requirements for NGOs and public entities

3. Data Classification and Lifecycle Management

   • Identifying personal, sensitive, and confidential data

   • Secure data storage, transmission, and disposal

4. Developing Data Protection Policies

   • Steps in creating internal privacy and data handling policies

   • Aligning organizational practices with donor and national standards

5. Risk Assessment and Mitigation

   • Identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities

   • Conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA)

6. Data Breach Management

   • Detection, response, and reporting procedures

   • Communication strategies during data incidents

7. Rights of Data Subjects

   • Access, rectification, and erasure requests

   • Balancing transparency with confidentiality obligations

8. Role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO)

   • Responsibilities, reporting structures, and ethical considerations

9. Data Protection in Digital Transformation

   • Cybersecurity essentials for cloud, mobile, and remote systems

   • Safeguarding digital identity and online communication

10. Institutional Compliance and Audit Preparedness

• • Conducting internal audits

  • Demonstrating compliance to regulators, donors, and stakeholders