The African Development Bank Group, the UNDP AI Hub for Sustainable Development, Google and Apolitical have launched a free AI training programme designed to help public officials across Africa understand and apply artificial intelligence in their work.
The programme was launched on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York under Apolitical’s Government AI Campus initiative.
Serving government officials and public servants in the African Development Bank’s regional member countries can access self-paced courses covering AI fundamentals, leadership and governance, as well as AI-enabled public procurement.
The courses include “AI Fundamentals for Public Servants: Opportunities, Risks and Strategies,” “AI Leadership in Government: Building Trust, Skills and an Innovative Culture” and “Smarter Procurement with AI.”
The training content has been developed by Stanford University Online and SDA Bocconi School of Management, while Google and Apolitical are providing the learning platform and content.
The initiative is linked to the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, a G7-endorsed initiative co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. The hub also aligns with Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, while the African Development Bank Group is a founding member of its Executive Steering Group.
The programme follows recommendations from the African Development Bank Group report, “Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation.” The report projected that inclusive AI deployment could contribute up to $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035 and identified skills and trusted governance among the key conditions needed to achieve those gains.
African Development Bank Director for Industrial and Trade Development Ousmane Fall said the initiative aims to strengthen understanding of AI within government, while UNDP AI Hub Director Keyzom Ngodup Massally highlighted the need for governments to develop the institutional and technical foundations required to participate in the AI economy.
The free training is open to serving government officials and public servants working on areas including AI in public service delivery, digital infrastructure, public-private partnerships and innovation.
