Author Archives: CIPESA

Joint Statement |

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping our societies; we must ensure ethical, inclusive, and rights-based approaches rooted in the lived realities of our communities, guide its development and application in Africa. 

The Global AI Summit on Africa 2025 held in April in Kigali is one of the important movements and platforms, bringing together civil society organizations, african leaders, parliamentarians, youth actors, researchers, and private sector leaders, to champion principles that uphold human dignity, safeguard marginalized voices, and foster responsible innovation. We applaud the inspiring conversations around AI’s transformative potential for the continent, driven at the Summit. However, such a conversation should not end there. To move from inspiration to impact, we must recognize that some critical voices need to be involved in decision-making spaces.

In collaboration with Niyel, Mozilla, Pollicy, ACM Nigeria, Innovation for Policy Foundation, MISA, and the Namibia University, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) contributed to the development of this call, addressed to african leaders, organisers, and co-chairs of the Global AI Summit 2025 to emphasise the need for more inclusive and participatory approaches.

Through this statement, we are calling for clear commitments and tangible actions around three priorities:

• Decent AI Jobs for Africa’s people
• Meaningful public participation in AI governance
• Resources and support for inclusive, participatory AI development

We invite you to join the call for action and become a signatory to a collective statement that pushes for global collaboration, transparency, and oversight in AI governance. Your voice matters in shaping a future where AI serves humanity, not the other way around. 25 signatories are on board. Whether you’re advocating for gender justice, digital inclusion, or ethical tech, this is your moment to co-create solutions that reflect shared values and lived realities.

Sign the call. Share it widely. Mobilize your networks. Together, we can build an AI ecosystem rooted in equity, accountability, and collective knowledge.

To sign the statement, fill out this form and click here to download the statement.