By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
Kenya and Sierra Leone are
exploring collaboration on artificial intelligence to build local capacity,
strengthen public services and advance the use of AI in education, research and
addressing persistent development challenges.
The discussions brought
together Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS,
Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, and representatives of
IDinsight and the OpenAI Foundation.
The exploratory conversation
included Rebecca Gong Sharp, CEO of IDinsight; Meg Battle, Senior Director,
External Affairs at IDinsight; and Charlene Migwe, Deputy Regional Director for
East and Southern Africa at IDinsight.
The engagement followed the
AI Middle Powers: Shared Sovereignty in the AI Era dialogue at UNGA, with the
discussions focusing on how African countries can build the agency and
capability to shape how AI is developed and applied.
President William Ruto and
President Julius Maada Bio share a strong interest in ensuring African
countries have the agency and capability to shape how AI is developed and
applied, and that it delivers tangible value for our people.
Thigo said there are
striking similarities between Kenya and Sierra Leone in how the two countries
are approaching the opportunity presented by AI, including a focus on human
flourishing, education, research, stronger public services and using AI to tackle
some of their most persistent development challenges.
The discussions also
explored where collaboration could help the countries build local capability,
generate evidence on what works and translate AI advances into measurable
public value in their own contexts.
