The African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) training program to expedite the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
This endeavour will make Modern AI tools available to African Union member states, enabling them to monitor better, evaluate, and report on the continent’s development goals.
The AfDB’s backing stems from the audacious conviction that artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer that would revolutionise data handling and policymaking throughout Africa.
How AI can transform African nations
During a recent five-day workshop in Lusaka, Zambia, representatives from around Africa were guided through real-world AI applications by AfDB, the African Union Commission, and the African Capacity Building Foundation.
These include programs like Google AI Studio and ChatGPT, which let nations leverage digital innovation to improve decision-making and resource allocation.
Abibu Tamu from the AfDB emphasised, “These tools are not only revolutionising data collection and analysis; they enable more targeted policy interventions.” This highlights AI’s role in boosting the enforcement of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.
Hands-on training for immediate impact
This AI training is part of broader efforts to build stronger institutional and human capacities across the continent. Countries exchanged successful strategies for leveraging AI to enhance national development planning and results-based reporting.
In addition to technical expertise, AfDB and its partners emphasise the importance of infrastructure development, AI literacy, and locally relevant data that considers Africa’s particular circumstances. With practical applications such as AI-powered disease detection and agricultural insights spreading throughout Africa, this project looks essential to realising the “Africa We Want” that Agenda 2063 envisions.
The African Development Bank’s commitment heralds a new era of data-driven advancement that might speed up development paths across the continent, making AI a crucial ally for Africa’s long-term success.