One of the world’s first national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Assessments has been initiated by Sierra Leone in collaboration with the World Bank.
This pioneering initiative is designed to equip the nation with the tools to utilise AI to deliver practical solutions addressing urgent national issues.
The Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project is led by the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, and initial findings were presented in Freetown to government, academia, civil society, and commercial sector stakeholders.
Evaluating core pillars for AI success
The assessment focuses on three essential dimensions: Compute (infrastructure), Capacity (skills and talent), and Context (policy and regulations). These pillars aid in assessing the nation’s preparedness for responsible AI adoption.
Sierra Leone now confronts issues like low internet usage (about 20%) despite a high mobile phone penetration rate, a lack of AI expertise, mainly in the capital, and a legal environment still developing to ensure ethical AI use.
Minister Salima Monorma Bah emphasised, “We are not asking how to fit AI into our systems; we are asking which national challenges AI can help us solve today.”
According to the government, AI can alter education, healthcare, and governance. It could also help with teacher training, disease tracking, and public service openness.
Bridging Digital gaps to unlock AI benefits
Despite near-universal mobile connections, internet access remains limited to around 1.8 million people, posing a barrier to equitable AI deployment. The readiness assessment serves as a diagnostic to address these gaps first, ensuring AI adoption does not widen inequality but instead fosters inclusion.
The collaborative approach with the World Bank aims to create a solid foundation for Sierra Leone’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, positioning the country as a responsible AI adopter in West Africa.
This pioneering assessment sets a roadmap tailored to Sierra Leone’s unique needs and development priorities, blending infrastructure, human capacity, and policy frameworks to unlock AI’s potential across sectors.