Governing Artificial Intelligence in Africa: Position paper on ECA’s responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and support to member States

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OoD
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Statistical Operational Documents
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping public, private, and civil society sectors worldwide. The African Union’s Continental AI Strategy, adopted in 2024, provides a continental framework for responsible AI through an Africa-led, people-centered approach emphasizing governance, capacity building, and effective institutions (African Union, 2024). Yet significant barriers persist: according to the ITU Global Connectivity Report (2025), only 40 percent of Africans use the internet, Africa has just 56 mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, and nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack electricity (IEA, 2024). AI governance in Africa must therefore address both ethical and infrastructure challenges simultaneously.
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) serves 54 member States and is well-positioned to lead AI governance efforts, translating continental strategies into practical tools, policy guidance, and measurable outcomes.
This paper proposes a two-part approach. First, ECA should establish strong internal governance for its own AI use, including risk assessments, ethical reviews, staff training, and incident reporting. Second, ECA should support member States, regional economic communities (RECs), and continental organizations through policy advice, shared data systems, procurement frameworks, readiness evaluations, and capacity building. Five priorities are identified: closing the technology gap, building African data commons, increasing AI transparency, aligning AI with African values and contexts, and strengthening institutional capacity. The paper also proposes an internal governance framework, an external support plan, and regular publication of an African AI Readiness and Maturity Index.
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