Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy

List of Figures

Abbreviations

Vision

The strategy envisions an Africa that is prosperous and integrated, where AI is practised responsibly and ethically and grounded in African perspectives. This AI will drive inclusive growth, build resilience and socio-economic development, empower people and establish Africa as an important force in the worldwide AI sector.

2.4.2.1 Public Sector’s Adoption of AI

The section describes how AI can enhance public service delivery through improved resource allocation, decision-making, cost savings and expanded access for people with disabilities. It emphasizes that governments should build civil servant capacity, develop digital government strategies integrating AI, and establish partnerships between public sector, private sector and research institutions to design and implement AI solutions for African public services. Actions recommended include piloting small-scale experimental AI projects with development partners and the private sector, establishing a regional database of public sector AI solutions and use cases, supporting research on AI integration in government, and enhancing partnerships to access advanced technologies and expertise.

2.4.2.2 AI in Priority Sectors

While all economic sectors can benefit from or be harmed by AI, priority sectors for adoption in Africa are agriculture and food security, health and education, followed by environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. These sectors are emphasised because agriculture underpins Africa's economy, health and education are critical to the SDGs and Agenda 2063, and climate change poses growing risks including wildfires, droughts, cyclones and floods requiring advanced technologies for prediction, analysis and adaptive responses.

Expanding AI Adoption in Agriculture in Africa

AI has potential across agricultural functions including crop yield, irrigation, monitoring and weeding, combined with geospatial technologies for weather and soil monitoring. The section recommends promoting widespread adoption through knowledge exchange, designating centres of excellence to document and share AI use cases and solutions in agriculture, and raising awareness of potential benefits and risks.

Expanding AI Adoption in the African Health Sector in Africa

AI supports diagnosis, disease detection, treatment and patient care for conditions including cancer, malaria and tuberculosis, with AI-enabled robots assisting elderly and disabled persons, while tutoring systems and assistive tools improve access and quality in education despite risks from generative AI affecting teaching and learning, with administrative tasks automated. Long-term AI human capital development requires modernizing curricula from primary to tertiary levels and workplaces to teach computational thinking, coding, logic and critical problem-solving. AI can help predict and address climate-related hazards affecting millions on the continent through technology-based early warning systems forecasting severe weather phenomena such as hurricanes, floods and droughts, enabling rapid response and readiness.

2.4.3.1 Datasets and Computing Platforms for AI Development in Africa

AI development requires high-quality, diverse, locally-produced datasets and substantial computing resources; most public and private data in Africa remains inaccessible and the continent lacks adequate computing power and data centres, representing only 1.8% of global large-scale data centres despite having 15% of global population. Member States should develop data policies enabling non-personal data access for AI, establish data governance and personal data protection frameworks, raise awareness of data needs, and support analysis of data infrastructure and AI intersection; they should accelerate national and regional data strategies, promote regional data pools and cross-border data sharing, and invest in data infrastructure including green data centres and IoT deployment.

2.4.3.2 AI Skills and Talent

Educational institutions from primary to higher levels should teach technology use, coding, data analysis, programming and soft skills including problem-solving and collaboration, while vocational institutions and teachers need retraining in AI; unemployed youth, school dropouts, workplace personnel, judges, media professionals, parliamentarians and diplomats require specialised AI training tailored to their needs. Member States should develop AI curricula for all levels, assess skills needs and labour market implications particularly for vulnerable groups, establish training partnerships between universities and industry, and provide upskilling for teachers and faculty. Training programmes must include women, girls, persons with disabilities, migrants, low-income people and those in remote areas, and trainers require investment to ensure effective knowledge transfer and quality research in AI.

2.4.3.3 Fostering AI Research and Innovation

Africa currently invests minimally in AI research and lacks presence in leading journals and patents, requiring localised AI research addressing Agenda 2063 challenges and development goals, including preservation of local languages and investigation of ethical, legal and safety implications. Researchers need well-equipped centres, state-of-the-art tools, funding, and partnerships linking academia with enterprises. Barriers for African researchers and innovators must be removed to enable access to international knowledge networks and capacity-building opportunities through partnerships with world-wide academic and innovation sectors in order to tackle development problems affecting Africa.

2.4.4.1 Gender Equality, Inclusion and Diversity in AI

Continental, regional and national agencies must ensure AI development and adoption are inclusive, benefit all Africans especially women and girls, respect linguistic and cultural diversity, and support vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities. Member States should develop AI in local languages, tailor applications to rural areas, conduct impact assessments on protected groups, and provide governance mechanisms promoting diversity and gender equality.

2.4.6.1 Intra-Africa Coordination on AI

AU Member States should coordinate on AI by exchanging policy implementation experiences, sharing regional data systems, combining AI capacity development with literacy and digital governance initiatives, collaborating on research infrastructure and resources, and sharing knowledge on cross-border safety risks through policy dialogues, platforms for strategy exchange, sub-regional forums with AU and regional economic communities, and communities of practice. The section calls for creating a regional agreement governing cross-border data sharing and movement for AI purposes in line with existing African Union instruments, and for organising training workshops, virtual platforms and dedicated groups to exchange AI knowledge and expertise across Africa. It recommends supporting joint regional and national AI research and innovation initiatives financially.

2.4.6.2 Fostering Partnership between Africa and Other Regions and Countries

Africa should partner with global actors to ensure AI benefits its 1.46 billion people through international cooperation on ethical, safety and security risks, sharing expertise and data for climate models, enabling research collaboration between African and other institutions, and mobilizing financial and technical assistance from governments and private sectors. The strategy recommends integrating AI in AU strategic partnerships, engaging multilateral and bilateral institutions, engaging private sector, developing an AI financing strategy, and organizing two financing forums between 2025 and 2030.

2.4.6.3 Strengthen African Participation in Global AI Governance

Africa has limited representation in global AI governance discussions held mainly in developed countries, facing barriers such as travel costs, lack of event information, technical capacity gaps, and brain drain of African experts. The AU should coordinate Africa's participation in multilateral forums, build capacity of diplomats and decision-makers, leverage AU G20 membership for AI partnerships, and integrate AI into national and regional foreign policies. Actions include establishing a high-level AU coordination mechanism for AI governance, actively participating in international AI governance discussions, building capacities of African participants, disseminating information on AI events, organizing consultative workshops to develop common African positions, creating an AI events portal, engaging prior to major AI events, and encouraging Member States to host global AI events.

Annex