AI Governance Frameworks for Ethical and Inclusive Innovation in East Africa
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming industries across East Africa, from healthcare and agriculture to finance and education. However, the lack of robust governance frameworks poses significant risks, including bias, discrimination, and misuse of AI technologies. Without proper regulation, AI innovations may exacerbate existing inequalities and fail to address the needs of marginalized communities. This topic focuses on the development and implementation of AI governance frameworks that ensure ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI innovation. By establishing guidelines for ethical AI development, promoting inclusivity, and fostering transparency and accountability, East Africa can build public trust in AI technologies, minimize risks, and drive economic growth. Proper governance will also position the region as a global leader in responsible AI innovation. This discussion is timely, as governments and organizations in East Africa are increasingly adopting AI but lack clear regulatory frameworks. The topic invites stakeholders—governments, private sector, academia, and civil society—to collaborate on creating governance frameworks that balance innovation with ethical considerations, ensuring AI benefits all segments of society while fostering sustainable growth and global competitiveness..Strengthening Cyber Resilience In East Africa
With the rise of cyber threats, data breaches, and digital vulnerabilities, East African nations must enhance their cybersecurity frameworks. This session will explore best practices for securing critical infrastructure, strengthening data protection laws, and building capacity for cyber resilience. Discussions will focus on policy recommendations, public-private partnerships, and regional cooperation to combat cyber threats effectively.Building] Digital Trust and Resilience.
This theme aligns with the global IGF. A resilient, interoperable, and trustworthy Internet is critical to ensuring that communication infrastructure, services, and data exchange remain stable and secure in the face of growing cyberthreats and disruptions to digital infrastructures. Misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, hacked data, hate speech, misuse of private information, biased AI responses, and other confusing and imprecise elements of information are commonplace challenges to the Internet we use and enjoy. Proposals addressing these aspects of the Internet we want, including the development of relevant skills, tools, and other capacity, are welcome under this sub-theme.Topics under the sub-theme of [Building] Digital Trust and Resilience may include (but are not limited to):
- Infrastructure resilience
- Ethical foresight and regulatory diligence in the development and deployment of digital technologies
- Information integrity
- Child safety online
- Protection of Internet critical infrastructure in crisis situations
Universal Access and Digital Rights
Gaps and inequality in meaningful digital access pose profound challenges for communities across the world. Such digital divides cannot be addressed without recognising the essential link between universal access and human rights: an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, and secure digital future can only be realised when human rights are respected both offline and online. Proposals under this sub-theme may work towards addressing persistent barriers to universal access, as well as the challenges that digitalization and digital inequality can pose for human rights.Topics under the sub-theme of [Building] Universal Access and Digital Rights may include (but are not limited to):
- Local connectivity and community-based networks and solutions for affordable universal access
- Financing mechanisms for addressing the access gap and digital inequalities
- Digital Public Infrastructure
- Digital inequalities related to age, gender, disability, geographic location, language, or economic situation
- Access as a right
- Responding to practices that threaten or undermine human rights
- Use of existing norms, principles and frameworks in ensuring respect for digital rights
- Expanding available and affordable access to Internet
- Promoting a multilingual Internet
- Building digital literacy, economic capacity, and awareness of sustainability issues related to digitalization
- Exploring Internet fragmentation from technical, policy, legal, and regulatory/governance perspectives
