African Ministers Endorse AI Strategy to Accelerate Continental Digital Transformation

In a significant move towards accelerating Africa’s digital transformation, African ICT and Communications Ministers have unanimously endorsed the Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and the African Digital Compact. This endorsement took place during the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and ICT, held virtually from June 11 to 13, 2024. The session convened more than 130 African ministers and experts to address the rapid advancements in AI technology and applications across the continent.

The Continental AI Strategy aims to guide African countries in leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve their development aspirations and improve the well-being of their people. It promotes the ethical use of AI, minimises potential risks, and leverages opportunities. The strategy emphasises an Africa-owned, people-centred, development-oriented, and inclusive approach to enhance AI capabilities in infrastructure, talent, datasets, innovation, and partnerships while ensuring adequate safeguards against threats.

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At the opening of the ministerial session, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid highlighted Africa’s commitment to harnessing new technologies for the continent’s well-being. She emphasised the need for a continent-wide, harmonised approach to AI to tackle Africa’s complex challenges while minimising risks. “For us Africans, Artificial Intelligence presents tremendous opportunities. It is a driving force for positive transformational change as well as economic growth and social progress,” Dr. Abou-Zeid stated.

Commissioner Abou-Zeid praised the endorsement of the strategy as a timely and strategic move, emphasising the importance of adapting AI to African realities. “AI systems should reflect our diversity, languages, culture, history, and geographical contexts. By examining and approving this strategy, we can create an inclusive AI ecosystem and a competitive African AI market that meets our ambitions,” she added.

The AI Strategy sets a roadmap for African countries to utilize AI in various sectors, including education, skills development, health, agriculture, infrastructure, peace and security, and good governance. It focuses on developing human capital, strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, and building an AI-ready institutional and regulatory environment. By investing in African youth, innovators, computer scientists, data experts, and AI researchers, the strategy aims to position Africa for success in the global AI arena.

The Minister of Information, Communications, Science Technology, and Innovation of Lesotho, and Chair of the Bureau of the technical committee, H.E. Ms. Nthati Moorsi, highlighted the vast opportunities presented by AI-enabled systems. She emphasized the potential for homegrown solutions to stimulate economic growth and sustainable development, aligning with the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the AI Strategy, the ministerial committee endorsed the African Digital Compact, a common vision for Africa’s digital future. This Compact aims to harness the transformative potential of digital technologies to foster sustainable development, economic growth, and societal well-being throughout Africa. Commissioner Abou-Zeid described the Compact as Africa’s strategic commitment to utilizing digital transformation as a catalyst for inclusive progress and sustainable development, positioning Africa at the forefront of the global digital economy as both an innovator and producer.

During discussions, African ministers stressed the importance of Africa’s role in shaping global digital governance. They emphasised the need for capacity building and knowledge transfer to empower Africa’s youth, private sector, and institutions to participate in the digital economy. Initiatives focused on enabling ecosystems, digital education, skills development, and job reassignment were highlighted as crucial.

Minister Moorosi underscored the need to consider Africa’s unique challenges and contexts in the global discourse on digital technologies. “Our position must advocate for our capability to develop our own electronic technologies and equitable access to these critical resources. Additionally, we must ensure that when the global community addresses the artificial intelligence alignment problem, the unique needs and contexts of Africa are considered,” she stated.

The ministerial meeting concluded with a mandate for the African Union to organise a Continental African Artificial Intelligence Summit to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning among stakeholders across the continent. Both the Continental AI Strategy and the African Digital Compact will be submitted to the African Union Executive Council in July 2024 for consideration and adoption.

These initiatives, developed through extensive stakeholder consultations, contribute to the Global Digital Compact and the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024. They are anchored in the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) and Agenda 2063, building on other continental digital policies and frameworks aimed at fostering digital technologies and achieving Africa’s long-term development aspirations.

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Source: African Union