UNESCO-Eastern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI)
Nairobi, Kenya
YouTube Video
Register to the Event
If you have not received the confirmation email, we kindly invite you to check your spam folder.
UNESCO and the Government of Kenya are jointly organizing the Eastern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI) from 24 to 26 June 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Forum will be held under the theme ‘‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for sustainable development in Eastern Africa: Governance, Ethics, Capacities, and Partnerships’’.
The EARFAI builds on the foundations established by previous landmark events, including the first UNESCO Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, held in Benguerir, Morocco, in December 2018, and the Southern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (SARFAI), held in Windhoek, Namibia, in September 2022.
The Forum will contribute to strengthening UNESCO’s close engagement with African Member States by building their capacities to harness innovation and digital transformation, including through the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 and the aspirations of the African Union's Agenda 2063 ‘‘The Africa We Want’’.
Additionally, the Forum will support the ongoing development of the African Union Continental Strategy on AI, in line with UNESCO’s support to the process.
Outcome Document
Background Documents
Goals and Objectives
The Forum aims to provide a platform to Member States from Eastern Africa and beyond, international organizations, civil society, and the AI industry to:
Examine the state of artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance in East Africa and identify gaps in AI capacity and institutions.
Examine the ethical use of AI in East Africa and promote the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (UNESCO, 2021), including building on ongoing Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).
Develop strategies to strengthen human and institutional capacities, including those of governments, including through UNESCO's Competency Framework for AI and Digital Transformation for Public Servants and the Judiciary, based on UNESCO's AI and Rule of Law Programme.
Leverage insightful examples from East Africa to inform the finalization and implementation phase of the African Union's (AU) Continental Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
To take stock of entities and expert groups working on or applying AI in the East African region and connect them to the global networks established by UNESCO.
Strengthen international cooperation and partnerships to promote fair, inclusive, transparent, effective, and ethical AI policies and data governance.
Expected Outcomes
Adoption of an outcome statement with actionable recommendations for the development of AI in Eastern Africa, as well as its ethical governance and use of AI in Eastern Africa, in alignment with the continental strategy on AI.
Enhancement of partnership and cooperation opportunities with an all-stakeholders approach, including establishment/strengthening of collaboration platforms and networks.
