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The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called for harmonised regional policies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, saying member states must work together to develop frameworks that reflect national priorities while promoting inclusive and responsible digital transformation.
Speaking during the opening of a four-day stakeholder consultative workshop on Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies and Digital Inclusion in Nairobi, COMESA Telecommunications Officer, Leonard Chitundu, said the consultations marked the start of an inclusive process to develop regional digital policies informed by the experiences and perspectives of member states.
“These consultations are the beginning of an inclusive process to ensure that regional digital policy frameworks are informed by country experiences, national priorities and stakeholder perspectives,” Chitundu said.
He said Kenya’s success in mobile money, digital financial services, digital entrepreneurship, digital public services and innovation ecosystems provides valuable lessons that can help shape regional approaches to artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and digital inclusion.
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The workshop, held under the Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) Programme, has brought together representatives from governments, the private sector, academia, research institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and regional institutions to discuss the future of AI and digital transformation in the region.
Opening the meeting, Kenya’s Director of ICT in the Ministry of ICT, Timothy Were, said AI and emerging technologies were transforming economies and societies by creating opportunities to improve public service delivery, agricultural productivity, healthcare, education, financial inclusion and evidence-based decision-making.
Were reaffirmed Kenyan government’s commitment to promoting responsible, inclusive and secure digital transformation through stronger data governance, privacy protection, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, digital skills development and enabling policy frameworks.
He said the consultations would also examine how artificial intelligence can be developed and deployed in ways that promote inclusion, protect fundamental rights, reduce bias and expand opportunities for all citizens.
During the first two days, participants will explore opportunities for AI adoption, assess national readiness and identify policy and regulatory gaps that need to be addressed to support the technology’s growth.
The remaining sessions will focus on digital inclusion, with discussions centred on improving access to digital technologies for women and girls, persons with disabilities, rural communities, youth, refugees, displaced populations, linguistic minorities and small enterprises.
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