Kenya hosted the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Forum for Artificial Intelligence from June 24th to 26th 2024 at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum gathered 13 ministers, regional experts and over 700 participants providing us with a unique platform to engage on the key visions, recommendations that will guide the Eastern African Region and indeed Africa in elaborating norms, establishing institutions and developing capacities for responsible and sustainable use of Artificial Intelligence. The outcome Statement from this forum provides concrete guidelines on priorities, strategies and issues that require focus to leverage artificial intelligence opportunities in Africa.
Key recommendations underscored clear succession path to promote higher STEM uptake, networking across various technology fields to foster collaboration and focus on creating an inclusive society in digital transformation.
The forum also highlighted the need to establish Frameworks for Data Governance at national level, with special attention to essential data sets, in national data centres of Member States, for state security and sovereignty in a sustainable manner, and following the provisions from the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI to enable data trust as part of Policy Area 3 on Data Policy;
The region underscored the need to promote transparency of AI algorithms to allow for public oversight and avoid embedded biases in data collection, management, use and disposal, in line with the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI and to mitigate the digital divide by fostering open and competitive markets, taking into account vulnerabilities of developing countries, such as the lack of infrastructure, human capacity and regulatory frameworks;
There was consensus to promote Pan-African data sets as public assets to create platforms to foster scientific research and ethics based on the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, and to protect such data sets from exploitation by third parties. These will ensure that high quality data sets and the policies to mandate the use datasets representing linguistic and cultural diversity for training AI models for inclusive and non- discriminatory outcomes, and reinforcing awareness about, and protection of data ownership.
Kenya was delighted to welcome the readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) that was presented by the ADG Ramos to our Minister detailing Kenya’s vibrant and fast growing digital and ICT ecosystem. Our country is committed to position itself as an active contributor and producer of AI, rather than an importer or consumer. The Readiness Assessment Methodology noted Kenya’s ranks 24th globally on ICT Services exports, with its export sales increasing by more than 11% in 2023. One key recommendation from the RAM is to develop a national AI strategy. This process has started.
UNESCO is rolling out the RAM in 22 African countries, including Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia in Eastern Africa. After Easter Africa Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence, Comoros, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda expressed their interest in launching a RAM in their countries.
The Eastern Africa sub region concluded deliberations in Nairobi with a resounding dedication that our Governments and National experts will leverage the benefits of Artificial Intelligence while ensuring that the data used represents the diversity of our unique identities, languages, traditions.
