2023 concluded with only a handful of African countries having formulated national strategies or regulatory frameworks to guide the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Countries like Mauritius, Egypt, Senegal, Benin, Rwanda, Morocco, Tunisia, and Sierra Leone were among the early adopters, establishing pioneering AI strategies and frameworks. However, concerted efforts are underway across the continent to expand and build upon these groundbreaking initiatives.
Catalyzing AI Strategy Development in 2024
The year 2024 is witnessing a surge of dialogues, discussions, and initiatives propelling the incremental advancement of AI strategies throughout Africa. Spearheading this charge is the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD’s significant effort, marked by the unveiling of the AU-AI Continental Strategy and the AI White Paper. These ongoing groundbreaking initiatives serve as guiding beacons, providing a comprehensive framework for countries without AI strategies to formulate their own while enabling nations with existing strategies to revitalize and enhance their approaches. This comprehensive set of guidelines and structures underscores the African Union’s commitment to fostering a coordinated and collaborative environment for AI development. By establishing a continental roadmap, the AU-AI Continental Strategy and AI White Paper empower African nations to navigate the intricate landscape of AI adoption, tailoring their strategies to align with their unique socio-economic contexts and developmental aspirations.¹
Nigeria’s Collaborative Approach
Recently, Nigeria took a significant step forward by hosting an AI strategy development workshop in its capital, Abuja. This multistakeholder event brought together 120 experts of Nigerian descent from around the world, including researchers, practitioners, technology companies, civil societies, and other groups. Leveraging a human-centered design (HCD) approach, the workshop aimed to co-create a comprehensive national AI strategy focused on addressing the needs of Nigerian citizens and communities. The workshop, held from April 15th to 18th, was supported by a diverse array of local and international organizations, including Luminate, Google, Meta, Microsoft, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Center for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (NCAIR), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), UNESCO, UNDP, Galaxy Backbone Limited, and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).²
Kenya’s Pioneering Initiative
On the other hand, Kenya’s effort to develop a National AI Strategy is a significant step towards harnessing the transformative power of AI for sustainable development and social inclusion across various sectors. Launched in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), this initiative aims to guide the responsible and strategic use of AI technologies in the country. This project signifies Kenya’s commitment to becoming a pioneer in Africa in leveraging AI for positive impact and sets an example for other African countries to adopt similar strategies. The development process involves extensive consultations across sectors to ensure that the strategy captures the needs and priorities of all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, academia, and civil society. The strategy will focus on policy and regulation to support responsible AI development, manage risks, and address ethical considerations. Kenya’s AI strategy development workshop brought together key stakeholders to identify gaps, discuss existing initiatives, define priorities, and gather feedback to shape the strategy effectively.³
Zimbabwe’s AI Policy Initiative
The Zimbabwean government is also taking proactive steps in crafting a national AI policy to govern the use of AI and other emerging technologies. This initiative aims to ensure that AI is utilized responsibly and strategically, aligning with the country’s values, interests, and aspirations. The policy development process involves consultations with various stakeholders, including the private sector, academia, and civil society, to capture the needs and priorities of all parties involved.4
Looking Forward
As more African countries develop national AI strategies, the continent is poised to witness a transformative wave of innovation and socio-economic growth driven by the responsible adoption of AI technologies. The AU-AI Continental Strategy and AI White Paper catalyze knowledge-sharing, cross-border collaborations, and the transfer of expertise among nations. Moving forward, other African countries must ensure that their AI strategies align with their unique developmental needs, societal values, and ethical considerations. By promoting a human-centric approach, these strategies can harness AI’s potential to address challenges in different sectors, ultimately contributing to the realization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).