Mini-Workshop: AI, Data, and Africa—Charting a Course for Inclusive Growth

This mini-workshop aims to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and data-centric strategies in fostering sustainable and inclusive development across Africa. Drawing inspiration from the African Engineering and Technology (Afretec) Network's commitment to building digital capacity and CMU-Africa's research initiatives like FINIA (Financial Inclusion via Novel Intelligence and Alternative data), which tackles digital financial literacy and policy, we will explore how tailored AI solutions can address unique continental challenges and opportunities. The discussion will emphasize the critical role of digital public infrastructure as a foundation for these advancements, considering insights from "The Global Rise of Public AI" and the imperative to develop AI from Africa, for Africa. Our goal is to collaboratively identify actionable strategies and foster partnerships that can harness AI and data responsibly, ensuring that technological progress translates into tangible benefits for all, aligning with national aims and promoting digital sovereignty.

What are we trying to achieve?

This mini-workshop, themed "AI, Data, and Africa," seeks to move beyond general discussions to define concrete pathways for leveraging AI and data for tangible impact on the continent. We hope to achieve the following:

• Shared understanding and vision: Develop a clearer, shared understanding among key stakeholders (PIs, researchers, potential partners) of the current landscape, opportunities, and critical challenges for AI and data initiatives in Africa, particularly concerning digital public infrastructure.
• Identify collaborative opportunities: Pinpoint specific areas and projects where some of the Afretec members and CMU-Africa researchers can collaborate more effectively, and surface the practical workarounds and innovative methods currently being used to navigate limited data and funding constraints. For instance, building on existing work like the FINIA project (which focuses on digital financial literacy, policy interventions, and leveraging ML for startup financial health).
• Innovate mechanisms for data and research: Spark discussion and ideation around new data collection, data sharing, and user-research mechanisms tailored to the African context, moving beyond known limitations.
• Actionable insights for policy and practice: Generate insights that can inform the development of 'public AI' strategies—whether through networked collaboration, public options, or other models—that are tailored to African contexts, ensuring ethical considerations, inclusivity, and alignment with sustainable development goals.
• Catalyze position development: Lay the groundwork for a potential position paper or a set of guiding principles that can articulate a forward-looking stance on "AI, Data, and Africa," emphasizing local innovation, data governance, and capacity building.
• Engage and align potential contributors: For individuals like yourself, the workshop aims to provide a focused platform to understand our direction and identify precisely how your expertise and insights can contribute, whether through a tailored talk, panel participation, or ongoing collaboration, ensuring that AI development is truly by Africa, for Africa.