AI forum by Kenya, UNESCO opens in Nairobi
A three-day Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI) organised by the government in partnership with UNESCO opens in Nairobi this morning.
The event themed ‘Harnessing AI for Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa: Governance, Ethics, Capacities, and Partnerships’ brings together ministers from 15 countries and aims to explore AI’s potential to drive sustainable development and societal transformation in the region.
Key to EARFAI will be discussions on the concrete implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, the to-date only global standard on AI with 193 countries adopting its provisions in 2021.
Through the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), almost 60 countries are implementing the standard through a comprehensive diagnostic exercise, of which 22 are from Africa.
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, will Head UNESCO’s delegation to the Forum, which will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.
EARFAI which is also the platform for the presentation of Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) reports from the region is intended to stimulate discourse on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy environment within the EA Sub-Region in order to support the development and use of universally agreed practices in AI globally.
The event will also see Eastern African private sector representatives joining UNESCO’s Business Council on the Ethics of AI community, and female experts from the region discussing the role of women in AI as part of a session with UNESCO Women4Ethical AI network.
“The Eastern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI) serves as a crucial platform to advance good AI governance, based on the work to implement UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, through its Readiness Assessment Methodology, applied to 22 countries in the region, and five Eastern African countries, which will be represented in the Forum. I congratulate Kenya and East Africa for their leadership in this domain. They can count on us to advance AI that benefit their people and their economies”, said Ramos.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UNESCO, Amb. Peter Ngure says Kenya is the gateway to Africa regarding Artificial Intelligence, and the conference will discuss a positive path towards life-changing solutions.
KNATCOM-UNESCO CEO Dr James Njogu has lauded the GOK for their immense support in staging the event. “This year’s event follows in the footsteps of major global AI events. We deeply appreciate the steadfast support of the Government of Kenya in making this year’s event a reality,” expressed Dr. Njogu.
UNESCO Regional Office for East Africa Director Alexandros Makarigakis has termed the event a key milestone for the sub-Saharan region in Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa.
“The conference will be a significant catalyst for cementing Africa’s legacy in matters of AI; we envisage that the event will be a game changer for economic transformation in the region, said Makarigakis.
EARFAI builds on the foundations established by previous landmark events, including the first UNESCO Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, held in Benguerir, Morocco, in December 2018, and the Southern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (SARFAI), held in Windhoek, Namibia, in September 2022.
However, this year’s event will feature new and exciting elements, such as interactive workshops and a focus on the role of AI in addressing the region’s education challenges, making it a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of AI in Eastern Africa.
It also contributes to UNESCO’s global agenda, including through the Global Forum on the Ethics of AI and the Global AI Ethics Observator.
Additionally, the Forum will support the ongoing development of the African Union Continental Strategy on AI, in line with UNESCO’s support to the process.
The Principal Secretary for Basic Education will officiate the opening session.
EARFAI is intended to stimulate discourse on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy environment within the EA Sub-Region in order to support the development and use of universally agreed practices in AI globally.
