Ministry of Education to Host Regional AI Forum in Nairobi.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) will host the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI) in Nairobi from June 24th to 26th, 2024. This event, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, represents a partnership between the Government of Kenya (GoK) and UNESCO. The forum aims to explore AI’s potential to drive sustainable development and societal transformation in Eastern Africa and nearby Indian Ocean islands.
Goals and Objectives
The EARFAI forum has several key goals:
- Explore Technology-Enhanced Economy: Discuss the future of economies enhanced by AI and other emerging technologies.
- Advance UNESCO’s AI Ethics: Promote the implementation of UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
- Develop Capacities: Strengthen human and institutional capacities through UNESCO’s AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants and the Judiciary.
- Create AU Continental Framework: Contribute to the formation of an African Union (AU) Continental Framework on AI.
- Enhance Cooperation: Foster international cooperation and partnerships to ensure AI policies are equitable, inclusive, transparent, effective, and ethical.
- Assess AI Efforts: Evaluate the work of entities and expert groups applying AI within Eastern Africa.
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Expected Outcomes
Organizers and participants expect several significant outcomes from the forum:
- Actionable AI Recommendations: Produce a statement with actionable recommendations for developing and ethically using AI in Eastern Africa.
- Establish EA AI Taskforce: Set up a dedicated AI taskforce within Eastern Africa.
- Form Country Networks: Create national networks on AI within Eastern Africa.
Themes and Sub-Themes
The main theme of the forum is “Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sustainable development: Reinforcing capacities, promoting ethics for AI, and strengthening partnerships and international cooperation.” Discussions will focus on these sub-themes:
- AI Governance: Perspectives on AI governance from Eastern Africa.
- Ethical AI Development: Building an environment that supports ethical AI development and use in the region.
- AI and Education: Promoting human capital development through AI in education.
- Empowerment of Women and Girls: Encouraging the empowerment of women and girls in the AI sector.
Participants
The forum will bring together a diverse group of participants, including:
- Government Officials: Ministers and senior technical experts from the region.
- UNESCO Commissions: Representatives from UNESCO National Commissions in Eastern Africa.
- Regional Organizations: Delegates from the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat.
- AU Representatives: Members of the African Union.
- International Bodies: Representatives from UN agencies and other international/regional organizations.
- Civil Society: Leaders from civil society organizations.
- AI Industry Leaders: Experts from the AI industry.
- Academia: Academic experts.
- Youth and Students: Engaged youths and students.
- Media: Representatives from various media outlets.
This forum represents a crucial step towards harnessing AI’s power to transform societies and economies in Eastern Africa. By fostering dialogue, enhancing cooperation, and developing ethical AI frameworks, the EARFAI forum aims to create a sustainable and inclusive future for the region.
Ministry of Education to Host Regional AI Forum in Nairobi.
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