Africa-focused AI Institute initiated by ACTS to foster equitable technological advancement and growth
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has launched the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII), a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing responsible, African-centered AI innovation, governance, and research. This visionary project aligns with the continent's unique values, priorities, and aspirations, aiming to drive economic transformation and create inclusive opportunities, particularly for Africa's youth.
One of the significant components of this initiative is Africa Initiative III, a flagship EU-funded research and innovation program launched in 2025. With a substantial budget of €500.5 million, Africa Initiative III is designed to strengthen sustainable, collaborative partnerships between African and European institutions in research and innovation.
The program is structured around 24 specific call topics distributed over five thematic pillars: Public Health, Green Transition, Innovation & Technology, Capacities for Science, and Cross-cutting issues. Within this framework, the support for human-centric generative AI solutions tailored to Africa's needs is particularly noteworthy.
This focus addresses key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and other critical development areas. The initiative underlines the development of ethical, inclusive, and context-sensitive AI technologies that empower African populations by addressing specific social and economic challenges.
The human-centric generative AI solutions are designed to be "human-centric," meaning they prioritize human values, inclusiveness, and local applicability rather than purely technological advancement. This approach emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive innovation that targets rural and marginalized populations, encouraging collaborations between African and European research entities, and aligning technological development with Africa’s socio-economic priorities and ethical considerations.
The ACTS AI Institute, led by Prof Divine Fuh, Director of the HUMA - Institute for Humanities in Africa, serves as a platform to ask questions about AI research that reflect everyday lives in Africa. The Institute works to equip African policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs with the necessary skills for AI development and governance and is committed to establishing and sustaining partnerships with various sectors to build a collaborative ecosystem for responsible AI development.
The Institute's work extends to developing tools to enhance agricultural productivity, such as predictive models for weather patterns and crop yields. In healthcare, AI-driven diagnostics and telemedicine platforms are being tailored to address Africa's healthcare challenges, particularly in underserved rural areas.
The AI4D Scholarship Program, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), has been a part of the work done by the institute. This program aims to build an ecosystem for responsible AI policies and inclusive AI innovation.
In conclusion, the ACTS AI Institute and Africa Initiative III play a crucial role in enhancing Africa’s scientific and innovation capacity through responsible, human-centered AI technologies developed within a strong EU-Africa partnership under Horizon Europe. The initiative underscores the importance of prioritizing bridging the AI gap and thinking from a policy perspective, as emphasized by Amb. Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Kenya's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.
- The Africa Initiative III, under Africa Initiative III, supports the development of ethical, inclusive, and context-sensitive AI technologies, specifically human-centric generative AI solutions, to address key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and other development areas.
- The ACTS AI Institute, working closely with various sectors, develops tools like AI-driven diagnostics and telemedicine platforms tailored to tackle Africa's unique healthcare challenges, particularly those in underserved rural areas.
- The AI4D Scholarship Program, a part of the work done by the ACTS AI Institute, aims to create an ecosystem for responsible AI policies and inclusive AI innovation, further emphasizing the importance of promoting collaboration between African and European research entities in this field.
