Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 1: Essa Mohamedali, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Sylivester Majige Robert, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Jabhera Matogoro, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Sylivester Majige Robert, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Jabhera Matogoro, Civil Society, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A roundtable format is the most effective setup for this session because AI regulation and innovation require active dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, startups, legal experts, and civil society. Unlike a theater or classroom setup, where discussions are largely one-directional, a roundtable breaks hierarchical barriers and encourages equal participation, ensuring that every voice from governments to AI entrepreneurs is heard and valued.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A roundtable format is the most effective setup for this session because AI regulation and innovation require active dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, startups, legal experts, and civil society. Unlike a theater or classroom setup, where discussions are largely one-directional, a roundtable breaks hierarchical barriers and encourages equal participation, ensuring that every voice from governments to AI entrepreneurs is heard and valued.
Policy Question(s)
1. How can African governments design adaptive AI regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation while safeguarding ethical standards, privacy, and inclusivity across diverse socio-economic landscapes?
2. What role should regional collaboration and initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), play in fostering a harmonized approach to AI regulation and cross-border technological advancement in Africa?
3. What strategies can be implemented to ensure equitable access to AI technologies and skills development in Africa, preventing the risk of widening economic and digital divides while promoting sustainable growth?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain practical insights into how AI regulations impact innovation in Africa and explore strategies for balancing ethical governance with technological growth. They will engage with experts from government, AI startups, civil society, and legal sectors, gaining a multistakeholder perspective on AI policy challenges and solutions.
Attendees will leave with:
1. A deeper understanding of AI regulatory bottlenecks and their impact on Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
2. Case studies and best practices from regions fostering AI growth through adaptive policies.
3. Policy recommendations for governments and regulators to create innovation-friendly AI frameworks.
4. The importance of developing AI solutions and content that reflect Africa’s local languages, cultural diversity, and socio-economic realities.
5. Networking opportunities with experts driving Africa’s AI agenda.
This session equips participants with knowledge, strategies, and actionable insights to advocate for responsible, locally relevant, and innovation-driven AI policies.
SDGs
Description:
Africa is emerging as a hub for AI-driven innovation, with local startups and researchers developing groundbreaking solutions in sectors such as fintech, agriculture, healthcare, and natural language processing. However, regulatory uncertainty and restrictive policies are stifling AI growth, creating a paradox where governments seek to ensure ethical AI use while inadvertently slowing innovation. The lack of clear, adaptive, and inclusive AI governance frameworks discourages investment, limits data access, and hinders the scalability of African AI solutions in the global market. This interactive workshop, organized by Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), will explore how African AI innovators can navigate regulatory challenges while ensuring ethical foresight and compliance. Bringing together government policymakers, AI entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, and legal experts, the session will dissect the current policy landscape, highlight best practices from other regions, and propose strategies for fostering an innovation-friendly AI regulatory ecosystem. Through case studies, open dialogue, and audience engagement, the discussion will examine: 1. The key regulatory bottlenecks affecting AI innovation in Africa. 2. The balance between regulation and innovation: How can governments enforce digital rights without discouraging AI startups? 3. Lessons from successful AI governance models worldwide and their applicability to Africa. 4. Multistakeholder collaboration as a pathway for inclusive AI governance. 5. Policy recommendations for adaptive, ethical, and innovation-driven AI regulations in Africa. This session aims to deliver concrete solutions and best practices to policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders, ensuring that Africa is not just a consumer but a leader in the ethical and sustainable development of AI technologies. Join us to help shape Africa’s AI future!
Africa is emerging as a hub for AI-driven innovation, with local startups and researchers developing groundbreaking solutions in sectors such as fintech, agriculture, healthcare, and natural language processing. However, regulatory uncertainty and restrictive policies are stifling AI growth, creating a paradox where governments seek to ensure ethical AI use while inadvertently slowing innovation. The lack of clear, adaptive, and inclusive AI governance frameworks discourages investment, limits data access, and hinders the scalability of African AI solutions in the global market. This interactive workshop, organized by Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), will explore how African AI innovators can navigate regulatory challenges while ensuring ethical foresight and compliance. Bringing together government policymakers, AI entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, and legal experts, the session will dissect the current policy landscape, highlight best practices from other regions, and propose strategies for fostering an innovation-friendly AI regulatory ecosystem. Through case studies, open dialogue, and audience engagement, the discussion will examine: 1. The key regulatory bottlenecks affecting AI innovation in Africa. 2. The balance between regulation and innovation: How can governments enforce digital rights without discouraging AI startups? 3. Lessons from successful AI governance models worldwide and their applicability to Africa. 4. Multistakeholder collaboration as a pathway for inclusive AI governance. 5. Policy recommendations for adaptive, ethical, and innovation-driven AI regulations in Africa. This session aims to deliver concrete solutions and best practices to policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders, ensuring that Africa is not just a consumer but a leader in the ethical and sustainable development of AI technologies. Join us to help shape Africa’s AI future!
Expected Outcomes
The expected outcomes of this workshop include a set of actionable policy recommendations tailored to Africa’s AI landscape, fostering adaptive and innovation-friendly regulations. Participants will gain insights into balancing AI governance and entrepreneurship, helping governments protect digital rights without stifling startups. Strengthened regional collaboration will emerge, with strategies to leverage frameworks like AfCFTA for harmonized AI policies and cross-border technological growth.
The session will also outline pathways to bridge the AI skills gap, ensuring inclusivity and equitable access to AI technologies. A post-session report will capture key takeaways, offering policy briefs for governments, civil society, and AI innovators. To sustain momentum, the workshop will propose follow-up engagements such as regional dialogues and collaborative initiatives, positioning Africa not just as a consumer but a global leader in ethical AI development.
Ultimately, this will create a robust AI ecosystem that drives innovation, attracts investment, and supports sustainable growth.
Hybrid Format: To ensure a fully inclusive and engaging hybrid session, we will adopt a dual-moderation approach, with one moderator onsite and another online to facilitate seamless interaction between in-person and virtual participants. Live Q&A and polling tools (such as Slido or Mentimeter) will be used to collect real-time input from both audiences, ensuring equal participation.
A dedicated content creator will actively share key insights, speaker perspectives (with consent), and session highlights on social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), amplifying discussions beyond the session and engaging a wider audience.
A chat facilitator will monitor online discussions, ensuring virtual attendees’ questions and contributions are integrated into the conversation. Live transcription and translation tools will enhance accessibility.
Given the limited time and hybrid format, we will focus on structured discussions instead of breakout sessions, ensuring that all voices are heard within the main session while maintaining a dynamic and interactive experience.