The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Niyel hosted the inaugural AfricAI Conference under the theme “Advancing responsible and open AI ecosystems in Africa”.

The meeting provided a platform for key AI stakeholders to share knowledge, network and strengthen the understanding of the potential and challenges related to responsible and open AI in Africa.

About 150 participants were drawn from AI4D’s Africa program and GIZ’s FAIR Forward initiative, including consortia partners, African AI researchers and grantees, AI practitioners and policymakers.

The conference aimed to: Enable participants from Africa’s AI communities and ecosystems to share knowledge and best practices from diverse contexts and perspectives; Provide a platform for exchange between research, public and private sector to build responsible and open AI ecosystems; and Create new alliances and opportunities for future collaboration.

CSEA’s Director of Research, Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, participated in the Conference which was held from 12-14 June 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda.

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CSEA in partnership with the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative, launched the "Employment Creation Potential of Industries without Smokestacks (IWOSS): A Nigeria Study" Report.

The meeting featured discussions between a high-level panel of experts who deliberated on the potential of IWOSS sectors such as financial and business services, information and communications technology (ICT), and formal trade to create large-scale job creation opportunities in Nigeria, particularly for the young and female demographic groups.

The Nigeria case study comes after thirteen (13) IWOSS case studies on African countries, and as such, similar reports have been successfully launched in other African countries such as Senegal, South Africa, and Ghana.

The report also notes that in Nigeria, industries without smokestacks are already surpassing manufacturing and other traditional sectors in creating jobs and generating economic growth.

The IWOSS launch was held on June 15, 2023, at CSEA’S conference Hall in Abuja, Nigeria.

Watch the live Zoom recording of the event. Click here. (Use Passcode: =+7eRTw. )

To view photos from the event, Click here

To see presentations from Dr Andrew Nevin, and Mma Amara Ekeruche, Click here

CSEA was represented by Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, at the launch of a baseline data book (Nigeria in Figures) by the Chief Economist, Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR), Dr. Afolabi Olowookere. The book will serve as a reference data book to guide the measurement and assessment of Nigeria’s socioeconomic performance over time and also aid Nigeria’s planning process and drive socioeconomic growth and development.

In his remarks, Dr. Onyekwena emphasised the need to mobilise resources towards education, agriculture and health sectors to promote socioeconomic stability. He noted that for Nigeria to fulfil its socioeconomic objectives by 2050, the human capital must be developed by investing in sectors that directly impacted their development. “This can be achieved by freeing up resources spent on things that are not urgent and channeling the same to those that impact the citizens directly’.

The book was launched on June 8, 2023 at the Muson Centre, Lagos Nigeria.

The Datasphere Initiative and the Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) at KU Leuven University co-hosted a webinar on July 6, 2023, titled ‘Responsibly unlocking the value of data in Europe : Impact on emerging technology and the global majority’

The event provided a platform for policymakers, businesses, civil society, and academia to discuss the European data strategy, its norms, and implications for emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence and data governance practices in the global majority.

Panelists discussed the questions still left open, and upcoming challenges for Europe to responsibly unlock the value of data for all.

CSEA’s Director of Research, Dr Adedeji Adeniran joined the panel session to discuss how European (and global) data governance efforts have developed in a fragmented and siloed manner and the impact this is having on data governance approaches in the global majority and the ability to deal with emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence.

This blog shares some key takeaways and outlines recommendations for stakeholders.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) convened stakeholders at the presentation of IFPRI’s 2023 Global Food Policy Report and the launch of a new CGIAR Fragility, Conflict and Migration (FCM) initiative.

The Global Food Policy Report titled ‘Rethinking Food Crisis Responses’ examines how to improve crisis response and build resilience in the face of shocks to food systems around the world, triggered by economic challenges, and conflict, among others.

The new CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration (FCM) kicks off its research agenda with a focus on climate resilience, gender equity, and social inclusion.

Augustine Iraoya, Research Associate at CSEA, participated in this event, which was held on May 11, 2023, at Fraser Suites, Abuja, Nigeria.