United Nations calls for urgent Pan‑African investment, skills and governance for AI

A United Nations official addressed delegates at a World Economic Forum event in Rwanda, urging urgent investment in skills, governance and financing so African countries can lead in artificial intelligence rather than be passive consumers. The speaker said Africa faces “two seismic shifts,” a demographic boom and the rise of AI, projecting that by 2050 the continent’s population will reach 2,500,000,000 with over 1,000,000,000 young people entering the workforce.

The speaker emphasized three priorities: expand education, training and entrepreneurship in AI—with special attention to girls and women; build policies and governance structures anchored in ethics, equity and inclusion; and increase investment, including a proposed Pan‑African AI fund to support homegrown solutions. The official said AI could transform health care, education, food security and climate resilience but cautioned technology must be embedded in a broader development vision aligned with the African Union’s digital transformation strategy and the United Nations Global Digital Compact.

The United Nations representative said U.N. resident coordinators and country teams are working with governments, businesses and communities to turn ambition into action, including mobilizing resources and supporting policies to close the digital divide. The speaker called for including AI on the agenda for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in July to help unlock finance for sustainable, inclusive growth. The remarks concluded with an appeal that “the time for action is now,” and an affirmation that the United Nations stands with African partners.