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Why an observatory?
Established in 2022, the African Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (the African Observatory) has recognised the need to promote African voices, experiences and value systems in global debate around responsible AI. Scholars in the social sciences and humanities are emphasising that an ‘African’ view on AI and AI ethics is critical for ensuring that the development and adoption of these new technologies supports, and is not harmful to, African societies and ways of living. The African Observatory takes a special focus on the foundational elements of inclusive and responsible AI governance, particularly as it relates to Africa’s (pre/post) colonial memory and in the context of our diverse democratic, constitutional and legal mechanisms of accountability.
What we do
Along with our collaborative and regional partners, the African Observatory undertakes a number of different activities in support of building the capacity and raising the visibility of African AI research. These activities include:
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Policy engagement and science communication
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Research and knowledge creation
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Network convening
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Capacity development
Our main goals
The African Observatory aims to be an open space of engagement, collaboration and critical inquiry on AI in diverse African societies, by enhancing positive impacts and mitigating the negative effects of AI through rigorous research, network facilitation, policy capacity building and public engagement.
We advance policies and practices that support diverse African societies to safely and fairly (responsibly) harness the benefits of AI in realisation of Africa’s development goals.
The African Observatory also operates as a central hub for all projects funded by IDRC/SIDA AI4D Africa. As a meeting place and repository of Africa-focused AI research initiatives, the Observatory is working to:
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Create a sustainable network of researchers and research institutions to support knowledge exchange on responsible AI for the continent
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Facilitate adaptable and enabling legislative and policy frameworks at a regional level that address responsible AI
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Equip policy actors with knowledge, skills, and understanding to harness the benefits of AI for the common good
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Ensure engaged communities are able to participate in public debates on AI and claim their rights.
Gender empowerment & inclusion
Gender and diversity transformation is a foundational component of the approach, design and purpose of the African Observatory.
A commitment to gender equality and inclusion by:
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Recognising and committing to empowering women’s voices in AI as a critical opportunity for promoting sustainability in responsible AI through initiatives such as the Women in Focus series.
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Producing research into the linkages between the realisation of different developmental agendas through intersectional analysis that examines gendered implications in all thematic focus areas.
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Including gender dimensions in all work-streams and building transformation indicators into the management, reporting and evaluation of the African Observatory.
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Engaging women’s voices and participation in all African Observatory activities.
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Ensuring gender-balanced teams across the country partners and the international advisory board.
Regional collaborators
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Cameroon
Senegal
Ethiopia
Nigeria
South Africa
Uganda
Advisory board
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Mr John Smith
Chief technical officer
Regional collaborators
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The African Network on Responsible AI
The creation and facilitation of an African network of AI actors forms part of the African Observatory’s overall vision. We aim to establish a sustainable and expanding network of researchers, research institutions, thought leaders, AI practitioners and policy-makers with a centralised platform through which stakeholders can regularly demonstrate, debate and share their skills and capacity in research and policy on AI in Africa. The network is a communications hub for relevant publications, presentations, workshops and seminars that engage with the various research interests and thematics of the African Observatory, broadly construed, and enable a longer-term and sustainable ecosystem for multi-stakeholder engagement around AI on the Continent.
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Partners
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