By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The African
Union Commission (AUC) and Smart Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to
accelerating the implementation of Africa's Continental Artificial Intelligence
Strategy through closer institutional coordination and a unified continental
approach to AI governance.
The discussions took place
in Geneva during the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, where the African
Union Commission met with Smart Africa Director General, Mr. Lacina Koné, to
strengthen collaboration as Africa moves from adopting a common AI framework to
delivering tangible outcomes.
The Continental Artificial
Intelligence Strategy, endorsed by African Union Member States in 2024, has now
entered its implementation phase under the leadership of the Commission.
Key initiatives currently
under development include an Action Plan, a Financing and Investment Plan, and
Guidelines on AI Governance to support responsible and inclusive AI adoption
across the continent.
The Commission has also
established an AU AI Taskforce to coordinate implementation efforts, while the
AU Peace and Security Council has mandated the creation of an African Union
Fund for Artificial Intelligence and a Pan-African Centre on Artificial Intelligence
to strengthen the continent's AI ecosystem.
During the meeting, both
organisations underscored the importance of aligning their respective
initiatives to avoid duplication and ensure coordinated implementation of the
continental strategy.
Smart Africa's role in
bringing together governments, development partners and the private sector was
recognised as a key asset in mobilising investment, fostering innovation and
supporting AI adoption across African countries.
The discussions also
emphasised the need for Africa to present a unified position in international
AI governance forums, enabling the continent to speak with one voice on issues
relating to artificial intelligence policy, regulation and global digital cooperation.
