Publications
Insights and Analysis: This collection offers in-depth analysis and findings from leading studies, highlighting the current state of AI development, opportunities, and challenges across the continent. These resources provide valuable information for understanding trends, strategies, and the impact of AI on various sectors in Africa.
Learning Note: Introduction to a data and analytics strategy
Many organizations lack a clear digital transformation strategy, making data strategy development crucial for Rwanda’s Economy Digitalization Programme. This initiative helps institutions maximize data assets and drive growth. A comprehensive data strategy was tested across Rwanda's public institutions, focusing on aligning data use with organizational goals for improved decision-making.
From the margins to the center: Africa's role in shaping AI governance
Africa has the potential to transition from an AI consumer to a developer by addressing infrastructure gaps, fostering talent, enhancing data ecosystems, and promoting regional collaboration. Inclusive AI governance and sufficient funding are essential to ensure equitable benefits and active African participation in shaping global AI efforts.
Landscape study of AI policies and use in Southern Africa
AI has the potential to support inclusive economies in Africa, but its proliferation poses risks that may worsen social and economic inequalities. A study assesses AI use and regulatory frameworks in Southern Africa, aiming to promote ethical governance and highlight opportunities across sectors like healthcare, education, and labor.
Deloitte's latest report on "AI for Inclusive Development in Africa
Africa's AI potential is hindered by data scarcity, limited infrastructure, and the digital divide. Despite efforts to bridge this gap, significant investments in digital infrastructure and AI-specific tools are needed to unlock AI's benefits for the continent.
From the margins to the center: Africa's role in shaping AI governance blog article published by World Bank
Africa has the potential to become a major AI player but faces challenges. To realize this, inclusive AI governance is crucial, considering Africa's unique context and priorities. Significant investments and policy frameworks are needed to harness AI's benefits and avoid potential risks.
Protection of Personal Information Framework South Africa published
The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa requires researchers, institutions, and investigators to comply with data privacy regulations. This framework provides guidelines to ensure research projects adhere to POPIA, protecting personal information and establishing data security measures.
New research, “AI and the Global South: The Role of Civil Society in AI Decision-Making’(CARE INTL UK)
This report highlights the role of Global South civil society organizations (CSOs) in AI governance. It explores their insights on effective AI inclusion and decision-making processes, aiming to inform future AI development and policy.
Harnessing power of language, tech to boost SME digital trade
Africa's MSME sector, powered by local languages and informal trade, drives 80% of the continent's commerce. Incorporating African languages into digital tools can enhance e-commerce, empower youth and women, and bridge global digital divides.
Pact for the Future
The Pact for the Future emphasizes global cooperation to address transformative challenges like climate change, inequality, and poverty, aiming for a sustainable, inclusive, and just future. It reaffirms commitments to international law, human rights, sustainable development, and gender equality, advocating for multilateralism and collective action. The Pact includes 58 actions for progress across development, peace, technology, and global governance, with a review set for the 83rd UN General Assembly session.
Can AI improve health care delivery in Africa? 5 things you should know
The potential of AI in African health care hinges on localization, infrastructure investment, oversight, cost-effectiveness, and empowering local innovators to address biases and create inclusive, impactful solutions.
Voice and Access in AI: Global AI Majority Participation in Artificial Intelligence Development and Governance
AI's transformative potential is hindered by unequal access, excluding the Global AI Majority. This paper proposes remedies like infrastructure development, education, participatory governance, and safety mechanisms to ensure equitable benefits.
Governing AI for Humanity
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers vast potential to advance scientific inquiry, public health, and sustainable development. However, AI governance is essential to address risks like bias, disinformation, and inequitable benefits. Current regulatory systems are fragmented, lacking accountability and clear standards.
Ethical Governance of AI in the Global South: A Human Rights Approach to Responsible Use of AI
AI's transformative potential is vast, with applications in various fields. However, the global south faces risks due to governance gaps and exploitation by developed nations, including resource extraction and invisible labor. Ethical governance is crucial to address these disparities.
Unpacking the potential of Artificial Intelligence to accelerate youth development in Africa.
AI has transformative potential for youth development in Africa, addressing key sectors like healthcare, education, and governance. The AU’s AI Continental Strategy and upcoming policy brief emphasize AI’s role in industrialization, job creation, and sustainable development, aligning with Agenda 2063 goals.
AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about that.
AI has the potential to address environmental crises but also contributes to issues like electronic waste, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions from data centers. UNEP urges sustainable AI deployment by improving regulations, efficiency, and renewable energy use in data centers.
The Bletchley Declaration by Countries Attending the AI Safety Summit, 1-2 November 2023
AI offers significant global opportunities but also poses substantial risks, especially in areas like cybersecurity and disinformation. International cooperation is essential to ensure safe, human-centric, and responsible AI development, with a focus on ethics, transparency, and equitable distribution of benefits.
Red Lines for AI: Restricting surveillance, reclaiming privacy
AI surveillance technologies are used by 75 out of 176 countries, affecting over 6.9 billion people. The lack of strong global regulations allows widespread surveillance, posing privacy risks. The European Parliament's AI Act aims for regulation but doesn't fully ban certain rights-infringing uses. ARTICLE 19 advocates for stricter regulations and clear boundaries to protect human rights and privacy.
AI and the Global South: The Role of Civil Society in AI Decision-Making
AI's rapid growth risks excluding Global South communities from governance. New CARE International research highlights four pathways for inclusive AI: literacy, local representation, advocacy, and equitable data governance.
AI for Inclusive Development in Africa Part 2: Data and Digital Infrastructure
African countries face significant challenges in AI adoption due to data deficits, limited infrastructure, and uneven internet connectivity. Bridging the digital divide, improving data security, and investing in AI-specific infrastructure like high-performance data centers and GPUs are essential to harness AI's potential for socio-economic advancement.
Artificial Intelligence for Development (Quarter 2 2024)
AI and machine learning offer transformative potential for economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. However, challenges like algorithmic bias persist. Africa Development Insights explores how UNDP and partners can maximize AI's benefits while minimizing risks for African economies.
The Role of AI Innovation Clusters in Fostering Youth Employment in Africa
AI innovation clusters in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya drive economic growth and job creation. This report highlights challenges, explores grassroots AI communities, and offers recommendations for strengthening clusters to boost youth employment and economic development.
Africa Now Has a Continental AI Strategy: What Next?
AI development in Africa is advancing, with benefits in healthcare, agriculture, and social services, but also posing unique risks. The AU’s AI Strategy, supported by UNESCO and experts, emphasizes ethics, inclusion, and equitable AI governance to align with African values and development goals.
A new technology Cold War: How Africa can navigate the latest US export controls on AI
The U.S. has imposed sweeping export controls on AI and advanced technologies, targeting adversaries like China. African nations, categorized under Tier 2, face challenges and opportunities to strengthen self-reliance, regional alliances, and local innovation amidst widening technology gaps.
Do we need a ministry of Artificial Intelligence in Uganda? Building a future that belongs to us
There is growing debate on Uganda's AI readiness and whether a Ministry of AI is necessary. Uganda ranks low globally but has potential by addressing key gaps in strategy, infrastructure, and talent development.
Beyond the good and bad: Making sense of the AU-Continental AI Strategy for African people
The African Union has endorsed a strategy to harness AI for Africa's development. This move is seen as a significant step towards Africa's participation in the global AI conversation. While the strategy presents a hopeful vision for Africa's future, Pollicy calls for a more nuanced approach that centers the needs of the common African. This approach will ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly to benefit all Africans.
Beyond the good and bad: Making sense of the AU-Continental AI Strategy for African people
The African Union endorsed its AI strategy, emphasizing development, prosperity, and Africa's active role in global AI. Critiques include limited public involvement, feasibility concerns, and foreign influence risks.
Facilitating agency in Ghana’s tech ecosystem: Lessons from Mazzuma and Ghana NLP
Multinational corporations dominate AI in Africa, amplifying inequities from digital divides. Ghana’s Mazzuma and Ghana NLP counter this by promoting locally tailored, open-source, and community-driven AI solutions.
Why Global South Countries Need to Care About Highly Capable AI
Highly capable AI, primarily developed in Global North countries, could disproportionately impact Global South vulnerabilities, risking catastrophic outcomes. Stakeholders must act to ensure equitable, transformative AI development globally.
Against All Odds: Increasing African Women's Influence on AI Innovation and Policy
Africa is becoming an AI innovation hub, with women playing key roles despite challenges. Advocates like Linda Bonyo emphasize capacity-building, gender equity, inclusive governance, and funding support to empower African women in AI.
OECD – FSB Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Finance1
The OECD-FSB Roundtable discussed AI's rapid adoption in finance, focusing on its benefits in efficiency, fraud detection, and customer service, while highlighting concerns like data protection, governance, and potential financial stability risks. It emphasized the need for risk-based management, international cooperation, and regulatory oversight for safe AI deployment in financial services.
Deloitte's latest report on "AI for Inclusive Development in Africa
Africa's AI potential is hindered by data scarcity, limited infrastructure, and the digital divide. Despite efforts to bridge this gap, significant investments in digital infrastructure and AI-specific tools are needed to unlock AI's benefits for the continent.
Pact for the Future
The Pact for the Future emphasizes global cooperation to address transformative challenges like climate change, inequality, and poverty, aiming for a sustainable, inclusive, and just future. It reaffirms commitments to international law, human rights, sustainable development, and gender equality, advocating for multilateralism and collective action. The Pact includes 58 actions for progress across development, peace, technology, and global governance, with a review set for the 83rd UN General Assembly session.
Governing AI for Humanity
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers vast potential to advance scientific inquiry, public health, and sustainable development. However, AI governance is essential to address risks like bias, disinformation, and inequitable benefits. Current regulatory systems are fragmented, lacking accountability and clear standards.
Red Lines for AI: Restricting surveillance, reclaiming privacy
AI surveillance technologies are used by 75 out of 176 countries, affecting over 6.9 billion people. The lack of strong global regulations allows widespread surveillance, posing privacy risks. The European Parliament's AI Act aims for regulation but doesn't fully ban certain rights-infringing uses. ARTICLE 19 advocates for stricter regulations and clear boundaries to protect human rights and privacy.
AI for Inclusive Development in Africa Part 2: Data and Digital Infrastructure
African countries face significant challenges in AI adoption due to data deficits, limited infrastructure, and uneven internet connectivity. Bridging the digital divide, improving data security, and investing in AI-specific infrastructure like high-performance data centers and GPUs are essential to harness AI's potential for socio-economic advancement.
Artificial Intelligence for Development (Quarter 2 2024)
AI and machine learning offer transformative potential for economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. However, challenges like algorithmic bias persist. Africa Development Insights explores how UNDP and partners can maximize AI's benefits while minimizing risks for African economies.