Farooq Sanni and Gnouyaro Sogoyou, both originally from Lomé, Togo, have embarked on a mission to transform their home country through data science. Having pursued their studies in France and Canada respectively, they are now part of an initiative by Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation in collaboration with the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at UC Berkeley. The initiative aims to use data science to influence policy for economic and human development.

Minister Cina Lawson stated, "At its core, the Togo Data Lab reflects our ambition to embed scientific rigor and technological innovation at the heart of governance." She highlighted the lab's role in expanding digital public policy possibilities in Africa with CEGA as a partner.

Carson Christiano, Executive Director of CEGA, emphasized the importance of local evidence generation for policy change. "The more we can bolster the capacity of African institutions to generate and use evidence locally," he said, "the more likely we are to reach our ultimate goal."

Under Minister Lawson's guidance, Sogoyou and Sanni are working on projects with Togo’s Ministry of Agriculture using satellite imagery and AI to support farmers. The lab was present at a global dialogue on AI in agriculture held by the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome this spring.

Sogoyou noted the significance of their work: “We’re helping decision-makers to take good decisions, to have good impact.” This initiative is part of a broader effort involving CEGA since 2020 when it began collaborating with Togo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawson recounted how MIT professor Esther Duflo recommended collaboration with UC Berkeley due to their expertise. Joshua Blumenstock from CEGA noted the dedication of Togolese policymakers who engaged actively despite time differences.

The technology underpinning these efforts is MOSAIKS, developed at UC Berkeley. It processes satellite data for insights into critical areas such as soil conditions and health. Sean Luna McAdams from CEGA described it as practical and accessible even without deep technical expertise.

The partnership between CEGA and Togo aims for mutual respect rather than a top-down approach. Lawson emphasized that this collaboration involves co-creation where local teams define policy questions and develop tools together with CEGA as a technical partner.

Already influencing neighboring countries, this initiative highlights young Togolese scientists like Sanni and Sogoyou as ambassadors demonstrating African talent's potential in shaping governance and development.