In a historic move to position Africa as a strategic leader in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy, the Africa AI Council has been established by Smart Africa—an alliance of 40 African countries representing over 1 billion people. Comprising key stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, and academia, this Council will drive Africa’s ambitions to uniquely position itself in the AI era.
Africa, home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, stands to benefit significantly from the productivity gains that AI technologies offer. The continent has a distinct opportunity to shape the workforce of the future, driven by AI-enabled industries, thereby accelerating digital transformation and enhancing economic competitiveness.
The Africa AI Council will act as a catalyst for these goals, working in synergy with ongoing national and continental efforts. By aligning and amplifying initiatives, the Council aims to unlock AI’s vast potential to drive growth and foster inclusive transformation across Africa.
The establishment of the Africa AI Council is a pivotal step toward realizing Africa’s potential in the AI-driven global economy. For Africa, AI is more than just a technology—it’s an arrow that, when guided by the right ethical frameworks and inclusive policies, will pave the way for digital prosperity and resilience for all citizens.
– Lacina Koné, CEO, Smart Africa
The mission of the Africa AI Council includes fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation to position Africa as a strategic player in the global AI landscape. The Council will work to ensure that AI technologies benefit all segments of society, driving inclusive growth across the continent.
Furthermore, the inaugural 15-member Council will be formally unveiled at the upcoming Global AI Summit on Africa, hosted by Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) and Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
Following the announcement of the Council at the High-Level Meeting on Artificial Intelligence for Africa in Rabat, Morocco, on 4 February 2025, consultative sessions will take place at the Paris AI Action Summit in February and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March. During these events, Smart Africa will hold extraordinary Ministerial Council sessions and broader stakeholder engagements.
C4IR and Qhala will partner with Smart Africa in developing the strategy and operationalizing the Secretariat that will manage the Council. Qhala has secured startup funding from the Gates Foundation to support Smart Africa in developing the Council’s strategic plan. The foundation is already working on an AI governance toolkit, an AI talent readiness index, and a framework for the Pan African AI Research Center, all of which will be instrumental in the Council’s work.
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