Scaling Responsible AI Solutions (SRAIS) | 2024 African Cohort
Description and Context
The success of the SRAIS project and the dedication of participating teams in 2023 have proved that the value for the international AI community and policymakers is undeniable. With the aim of extending its reach and impact, the GPAI SRAIS project is expanded through a dedicated African track, sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Montreal International Center of Expertise on AI (CEIMIA), in partnership with the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS)
The 2024 SRAIS African Track was launched to strengthen locally driven AI innovation across the continent while embedding the principles of Responsible AI. Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, this dedicated track engaged 13 teams from 11 African countries, tackling challenges in healthcare, agriculture, governance, environmental monitoring, and digital rights.
The initiative aimed to empower African AI practitioners to scale their impact responsibly, addressing systemic barriers such as limited data infrastructure, regulatory fragmentation, and unequal access to global AI resources. Through hands-on mentorship, cross-country collaboration, and expert guidance, participating teams developed practical tools and governance frameworks to ensure fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability in their AI systems.
Ultimately, the African Track contributed to building a continental network of responsible AI innovators—connecting African expertise with the broader international community of practice, and positioning Africa as a proactive leader in the global conversation on ethical, human-centered AI.
CEIMIA is pleased to partner with ACTS to scale up this work through IDRC/FCDO funding.
More details to follow soon!
Partners
Global Partnership on AI (GPAI)
The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) is an integrated partnership that brings together OECD members and GPAI countries to advance an ambitious agenda for implementing human-centric, safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) embodied in the principles of the OECD Recommendation on AI.
International Center of Expertise In Montreal on Artificial Intelligence (CEIMIA)
CEIMIA is positioned as a key player in the responsible development of artificial intelligence, based on the principles of ethics, human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth. CEMIA delivers high-impact projects in responsible AI through influential scientific diplomacy on an international scale.
IDRC – International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Canadian federal organization that funds and supports research and innovation in developing countries to promote sustainable and inclusive growth. Within the SRAIS African Track, IDRC provided financial and strategic support, helping strengthen responsible AI capacity across the continent and enabling local innovators to scale their solutions ethically.
ACTS – African Centre for Technology Studies
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a Nairobi-based think tank focused on science, technology, and innovation policy for sustainable development in Africa. As an implementation partner of the SRAIS African Track, ACTS coordinated regional mentorship, supported participating teams, and promoted responsible AI practices through policy dialogue and research.
Objectives
The objective behind the SRAIS African Track aspires to serve as a catalyst for the development of a robust and self-sustaining responsible AI ecosystem within Africa (here with a focus on the West African context). In pursuit of this goal, the track seeks to exchange valuable learnings and essential skills, creating interconnected networks to autonomously facilitate mentorship programs for local African AI-focused teams.
The ultimate envisioned outcome is a self-reliant and empowered entity, poised to foster both the growth and proficiency of AI initiatives within the dynamic and evolving African region. This strategic approach ensures the success of the distinct track while also contributing to the overall advancement and sustainability of responsible AI practices in the local context.
Highlights and Takeaways
The contextualization and appropriation of the SRAIS methodology by African stakeholders in the African continent greatly enriched the knowledge about scaling responsible AI solutions:
- Rising innovation, high barriers: African teams showed strong creativity in applying AI to health, agriculture, governance, and climate. But they faced persistent barriers: limited access to compute, scarce quality data, weak infrastructure, and fragmented regulation.
- Need for data governance and sovereignty: Teams highlighted that equitable data access and fair compensation for local contributions are critical. Issues of data sovereignty, cross-border transfer, and culturally appropriate governance frameworks were recurring challenges.
- Context matters: Solutions had to grapple with multilingual environments, cultural sensitivity (e.g., health and reproductive rights), and infrastructural realities. Scaling AI in Africa requires adaptation to local languages, norms, and community structures rather than importing “global” models.
- Mentorship as capacity building: The mentorship cycle was not just about technical fixes but about building a pipeline of responsible AI leaders in Africa. Teams gained practical tools to institutionalize responsible practices, from privacy dashboards to governance frameworks.
- Global lessons from local contexts: Challenges faced in Africa (limited resources, diverse populations, fragile data ecosystems) are not unique. Lessons on scaling responsibly under constraint are globally applicable, offering insights for responsible AI everywhere.
- Community of practice: The African Track strengthened cross-country networks among practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. This community is key to sustaining momentum, fostering shared learning, and amplifying African leadership in global AI governance.
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Participating Teams
Greenlive Agriculture (Cameroon)
Description
AI-enhanced agriculture platform offering farmers tools to monitor water use and crop disease in real time, improving yields and lowering costs.
Summary of RAI progress
Addressed fairness in access, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity for smallholder farmers while designing responsible data collection and usage practices.
AI4Health / Mboalab (Cameroon)
Description
Frameworks for secure and responsible AI in healthcare, supporting local health research and data governance practices.
Summary of RAI progress
Strengthened data protection policies, developed strategies for secure storage and sharing of sensitive medical information.
Kit4Council (Cameroon)
Description
Mobile AI tool granting citizens access to digitized public archives and council records, supporting transparency and governance.
Summary of RAI progress
Focused on data integrity, equitable access to public information, and preventing misuse of civic data.
YNA – Carbon Credit AI for Motorcycle Deliveries (Kenya)
Description
AI models for carbon credit calculations in motorcycle deliveries, enabling sustainable logistics.
Summary of RAI progress
Improved model transparency, real-time data verification, and inclusivity by engaging drivers, recipients, and regulators.
Data Law Companion (Kenya/Uganda/Rwanda)
Description
LLM-based assistant for navigating and comparing data protection laws across East Africa.
Summary of RAI progress
Enhanced explainability and user trust, while addressing risks of bias and ensuring inclusivity in legal awareness.
BESHTE Chatbot (Kenya)
Description
Conversational AI to support HIV testing and disclosure among young people.
Summary of RAI progress
Worked on reducing bias in training data, building transparency, and ensuring inclusivity for marginalized groups.
Multi-Crop Leaf Disease Detection AI (Nigeria)
Description
AI-based agricultural system to detect and manage crop diseases across multiple crops.
Summary of RAI progress
Ensured farmer accessibility, addressed risks of bias in crop/language models, and developed sustainable deployment practices.
Dawn AI Study (Nigeria)
Description
AI tools for education, with a focus on inclusive and ethical learning technologies.
Summary of RAI progress
Tackled inclusivity in student data, long-term sustainability, and responsible governance for educational AI.
AI-Powered IoT for Human-Wildlife Conflict (Zambia)
Description
AI monitoring and IoT-based prevention systems to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and support conservation.
Summary of RAI progress
Balanced conservation goals with community safety, developing responsible governance models.
Non-Intrusive Fish Weighing (Zambia)
Description
AI-enabled solution to monitor fish populations and optimize feeding without harming the ecosystem.
Summary of RAI progress
Integrated environmental sustainability and data transparency into aquaculture AI.
Delia Chatbot & Voice Assistant (Burkina Faso)
Description
AI-based health assistant providing medical advice and support via chatbot and voice.
Summary of RAI progress
Focused on improving data quality, privacy protections, and addressing risks of misinformation in health contexts.
LLMs for Sexual, Reproductive & Maternal Health Rights
Description
AI tools for education and advocacy in maternal and reproductive health.
Summary of RAI progress
Addressed cultural sensitivity, local language inclusivity, and the risks of misinformation in healthcare AI.
Regulatory AI (Uganda)
Description
AI-powered compliance tool for health and herbal medicine practitioners.
Summary of RAI progress
Built explainability into the platform, ensuring practitioners trust and understand compliance outputs.