150  No. 50741 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31 May 2024 Policy proposal 15.4.4. The processing of national data, including cross-border data-sharing, shall comply with South African data protection and security laws and policies. 15.5. Skills and Capacity Development Data requires both technological and human input to convert it into actionable insights that solve everyday problems, initiate evidence-based policies, and develop tradable digital goods and services. Technologies themselves need human input to provide the necessary support. Creating a digital economy and enabling inclusive participation also requires the capabilities to exploit and convert data into tradable goods and services. Therefore, digital skills are indispensable to a data-driven and digital economy. Digital literacy and expertise should be fostered across all levels of society, extending beyond formal training and education. If digital skills are crucial for fostering digital economic inclusion through employment and innovation, it is essential to formalize the inclusion of digital skills in school curricula. Ensuring that teachers are formally trained to teach various digital skills and continuing to donate computer equipment to schools in disadvantaged areas can significantly impact the creation and expansion of an inclusive digital skills pool. In South Africa, many organizations and institutions are involved in digital skills development initiatives, some of which are related to BBBEE compliance requirements. Existing research, such as the 2022 JCSE-IITPSA ICT Skills Survey, 12th Edition, largely indicates that these interventions do not have the necessary impact to bridge the digital skills gaps. The ideal solution is to coordinate all stakeholders involved in digital skills initiatives to ensure focused interventions and targets supported by monitoring and evaluation to maintain alignment with agreed goals and targets. There are also global partners, including international organizations and other countries, that sponsor skills and capacity development initiatives both locally and online. It is necessary to identify potential beneficiaries from certain groups who would not ordinarily have access to such opportunities and provide them with the necessary support to enable their participation in these digital skills development initiatives. 28 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za