AfDB Backs AI Training to Fast-Track Agenda 2063 Implementation Across Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has thrown its weight behind a new artificial intelligence (AI) training initiative aimed at accelerating the implementation of Africa’s development vision, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the Bank provided both technical and financial assistance for the fifth annual training workshop designed to equip African Union (AU) member states with advanced AI skills for effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.

Held over five days in Lusaka, Zambia, the workshop was jointly organised by the African Union Commission and the African Capacity Building Foundation. It brought together representatives from AU member states to enhance their technical capacity in leveraging AI tools and digital innovations for tracking progress on continental development goals. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional and human resource capacity across Africa.

Participants received hands-on training in emerging AI platforms such as Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. These sessions highlighted how AI-powered solutions can transform data analysis, improve decision-making, and enable evidence-based policy development aligned with Agenda 2063’s priorities for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Speaking at the event, Abibu Tamu, Lead Programme Co-ordinator at the AfDB Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to working with the African Union Commission and strategic partners to accelerate the continent’s transformation agenda. “These tools are revolutionising how data is collected, analysed, and reported, while enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” Tamu said.

The workshop also served as a platform for peer learning, with participating countries exchanging best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting. Organisers emphasised that the integration of AI into development monitoring will not only boost efficiency but also ensure that Africa remains on track to achieve its long-term vision of becoming a global powerhouse by 2063.

Source: Punch