Session
Organization's Website
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: In a theatre-style setup, seating is arranged in rows facing a central stage or podium, creating a focal point for speakers. This layout encourages the audience to direct their attention towards the front, facilitating better visibility and communication. Additionally, the stage's raised platform enhances speakers' visibility, making it easier for them to address the audience effectively. Moreover, the structured layout of theatre-style seating promotes a sense of formality, which can be conducive to productive discussions. Overall, the theatre style allows for optimal visibility, communication, and engagement, making it an ideal choice for open forums where active participation and dialogue are key.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: In a theatre-style setup, seating is arranged in rows facing a central stage or podium, creating a focal point for speakers. This layout encourages the audience to direct their attention towards the front, facilitating better visibility and communication. Additionally, the stage's raised platform enhances speakers' visibility, making it easier for them to address the audience effectively. Moreover, the structured layout of theatre-style seating promotes a sense of formality, which can be conducive to productive discussions. Overall, the theatre style allows for optimal visibility, communication, and engagement, making it an ideal choice for open forums where active participation and dialogue are key.
Description
As Africa’s digital economy grows, open-source AI is emerging as a powerful enabler of innovation, accessibility, and local problem-solving. By offering transparent, cost-effective, and adaptable AI solutions, open-source AI allows startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and innovators to develop AI-driven applications tailored to Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities. This aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which, amongst other aspirations, seeks to create a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, shared values and ethics and an influential global player.
This session will explore the transformative potential of open-source AI, demonstrating how African businesses can leverage open AI models to drive efficiency, inclusivity, and social impact. Panelists will discuss how open AI ecosystems foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capacity building, enabling a new wave of African-led AI solutions.
This multistakeholder session aims to generate actionable recommendations for scaling open-source AI solutions that drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Africa.
To create an equitable experience for both onsite and online participants, both onsite and online moderators will receive pre-session instructions to ensure ample consideration for online participants. This will involve prioritizing comments and questions from online participants before those physically present, acknowledging the inherent advantage of onsite attendance. To embrace the hybrid nature of the event, online and onsite moderators will foster an inclusive environment that bridges the gap between physical and virtual spaces. The online moderator will play an active role in engaging with participants through the chat function, fostering dynamic interaction throughout the session. Furthermore, all participants will be reminded by both onsite and online moderators at the outset of the session to uphold respectful discourse and adhere to the Internet Governance Forum’s code of conduct to promote a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere for meaningful exchange.
To create an equitable experience for both onsite and online participants, both onsite and online moderators will receive pre-session instructions to ensure ample consideration for online participants. This will involve prioritizing comments and questions from online participants before those physically present, acknowledging the inherent advantage of onsite attendance. To embrace the hybrid nature of the event, online and onsite moderators will foster an inclusive environment that bridges the gap between physical and virtual spaces. The online moderator will play an active role in engaging with participants through the chat function, fostering dynamic interaction throughout the session. Furthermore, all participants will be reminded by both onsite and online moderators at the outset of the session to uphold respectful discourse and adhere to the Internet Governance Forum’s code of conduct to promote a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere for meaningful exchange.
Organizers
GIZ
Christelle Onana, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Treaty-based international organization Kuuku Sam, GIZ African Union Office, International Organization.
Christelle Onana, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Treaty-based international organization Kuuku Sam, GIZ African Union Office, International Organization.
Speakers
Kojo Boakye, VP of Public Policy, Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Meta, Private Sector (Big Tech)
Anna Sophie Herken, Managing Director of GIZ GmbH, International Organization
Elias Waly Ba, Founder of Galsen AI, Private Sector (Small and Medium-scale Enterprise)
Rachael Adams, Founder and CEO of the Global Centre on AI Governance, Civil Society
Lerato Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy (I&E) Department, African Union Commission, Treaty-based Organisation.
Onsite Moderator
Professor Elijah Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, Academia
Online Moderator
Christelle Onana, Senior Policy Analyst and lead of the digitalization unit at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
Rapporteur
Kuuku Sam, Head of AI Made in Africa, GIZ
SDGs
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) is relevant as it emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive economic growth and ensuring decent employment opportunities. Open-source AI provides the opportunity for fostering an environment conducive to job creation and sustainable economic development in Africa. Similarly, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) underscores the need for resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation, both of which can be impacted by the application of open-source AI. Furthermore, open-source AI provides the opportunity to address disparities in access to technology (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities). Finally, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) emphasizes the necessity of cooperation and partnerships to address complex challenges, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and civil society to develop a vibrant AI ecosystem in Africa driven by local innovation.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) is relevant as it emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive economic growth and ensuring decent employment opportunities. Open-source AI provides the opportunity for fostering an environment conducive to job creation and sustainable economic development in Africa. Similarly, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) underscores the need for resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation, both of which can be impacted by the application of open-source AI. Furthermore, open-source AI provides the opportunity to address disparities in access to technology (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities). Finally, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) emphasizes the necessity of cooperation and partnerships to address complex challenges, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and civil society to develop a vibrant AI ecosystem in Africa driven by local innovation.