Smart Africa, a coalition representing 40 African countries and over a billion people, has launched the Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council to position the continent as a key player in the global AI economy.
The Council, comprising stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and academia, will spearhead Africa’s efforts to harness AI for economic growth and innovation.
Smart Africa emphasized that the continent, with its youthful and rapidly expanding workforce, is well-placed to benefit from AI-driven productivity gains.
The initiative comes amid projections that AI could contribute up to US$30 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa‘s economy by 2030. Analysts also highlight that equipping young Africans with AI skills could drive innovation and create a workforce capable of serving both local and global markets.
Smart Africa noted, “The continent has a unique opportunity to design the workforce of the future, driven by AI-enabled industries, thereby accelerating digital transformation and enhancing economic competitiveness.
“The Africa AI Council will catalyze these ambitions, working in synergy with ongoing national and continental efforts. By aligning and amplifying initiatives, the Council aims to unlock AI’s vast potential to accelerate growth and foster inclusive transformation across Africa.”
CEO of Smart Africa Lacina Koné, described the Council’s launch as a milestone in Africa’s AI-driven economic future. He stated: “The establishment of the Africa AI Council marks a significant step towards realising Africa’s potential in the AI-driven global economy.
“AI is not just technology to us, it’s an African arrow that, when thrown with the right ethical frameworks and inclusive policies, can pierce the way to African digital prosperity and resilience for the benefit of every citizen.”
The inaugural 15-member council will be officially introduced at the Global AI Summit on Africa, hosted by Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
Smart Africa will work alongside C4IR and Qhala, a social impact assessment firm, to develop the Council’s operational framework. Qhala has secured startup funding from the Gates Foundation to support Smart Africa in shaping the Council’s strategic plan.
According to Smart Africa, Qhala is already developing key resources to aid the Council’s work, including an AI governance toolkit, an AI talent readiness index, and a framework for a Pan-African AI Research Centre.
Last Updated on March 16, 2025 by samboadu
