Programme Coordinator for the EU-funded Data Governance in Africa Initiative, Expertise France
Henrike HIRNSTEIN
Henrike HIRNSTEIN
Henrike Hirnstein serves as the Programme Coordinator for the EU-funded Data Governance in Africa Initiative at Expertise France, the French public agency for international development cooperation (Agence Française de Développement Group). Her role encompasses the management of a multi-dimensional strategy designed to bridge the gap between open data and social impact through three key pillars: strengthening data governance frameworks, building technical data capacities, and fostering innovation and value creation through applied data use cases. In partnership with national space agencies, Henrike leads the development of Earth Observation (EO) Innovation Labs, providing researchers and innovators with data access and prototyping tools designed to transform raw earth observation data into viable services. These efforts create new pathways for EO-driven digital social innovation and commercialisation in sectors such as precision agriculture, climate tracking, and urban planning. Prior to joining the Initiative – and with more than a decade of experience at the intersection of international policy, information technologies, and digital development – Henrike has navigated technical and regulatory landscapes to ensure innovation remains grounded in sustainability and societal benefit. She steers complex initiatives from inception to scale, specialising in policy analysis, the alignment of diverse stakeholder interests, and the mobilisation of resources to achieve shared policy goals. Henrike holds an MSc in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh.
