As governments and technology companies race to define the rules that will govern artificial intelligence, a new international initiative is working to ensure Africa has a stronger voice in determining how those rules are written.
A consortium of African and European research institutions and civil society organizations has launched a four-year project aimed at strengthening African influence in global AI governance debates and developing policy frameworks rooted in the continent's values, priorities and lived realities.
The initiative, titled Fostering Digital Pan-Africanism in AI Governance through Evidence and Action, will run through March 2030 and seeks to address growing concerns that global AI standards are largely being shaped by actors in the Global North, often with limited consideration of African contexts.
Led by the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research at the University of Bremen in Germany, the consortium includes Media Rights Agenda in Nigeria, the Association for Progressive Communications in South Africa, and the Media Foundation for West Africa in Ghana. The project is supported by a €1.87 million grant from Volkswagen Stiftung under its Change! Fellowship programme.
At its core, the project aims to move African stakeholders from the margins to the centre of global AI governance conversations. Researchers and advocates will work together to develop evidence-based, rights-focused and Pan-African approaches to regulating AI technologies, while building stronger networks among civil society organizations engaged in digital policy across the continent.
The initiative comes as African countries increasingly grapple with the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence, including concerns around surveillance, misinformation, algorithmic bias, labour displacement, data governance and digital sovereignty. Many experts argue that without meaningful African participation, AI governance frameworks risk reflecting external priorities rather than local realities.
To address this challenge, the project will conduct extensive research across the continent, combining surveys, interviews, policy analysis and participatory workshops with civil society groups, policymakers and researchers. The work will examine how AI policies are being developed across Africa and identify opportunities for greater regional coordination and collaboration.
Strathmore University's Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law in Kenya will contribute as an academic partner, while a 20-member advisory board comprising experts in human rights, technology governance and public policy will help guide the initiative.
Beyond research, the consortium plans to translate findings into practical policy recommendations through stakeholder dialogues, digital governance forums and knowledge-sharing platforms. The goal is to support governments, regional institutions and civil society organizations in developing AI governance approaches that reflect African priorities while contributing to global discussions on the responsible use of emerging technologies.
Photo courtesy: Google
Article by Jed Mwangi
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