The African Development Bank (AfDB) is stepping up support for Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity building to speed up the implementation of Africa’s flagship development agenda, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the Bank has provided both technical and financial backing for the 5th Annual Training Workshop for African Union (AU) member states, focusing on AI-driven monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of the continental blueprint.
The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was organised in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). It brought together representatives from AU member states to deepen their skills in deploying AI tools and digital innovations for more effective tracking of development outcomes.
Participants engaged in practical sessions with advanced AI platforms such as Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. These tools were showcased for their potential to improve data analytics, accelerate decision-making, and strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the continent.
Abibu Tamu, Lead Programme Co-ordinator at the AfDB, said the initiative underlined the Bank’s commitment to fostering results-oriented planning, accountability, and innovation within Africa’s development framework.
“AI is transforming the way data is collected, analysed, and reported. This means more precise policy targeting and better allocation of resources,” Tamu noted.
The workshop also provided a platform for peer-to-peer learning, with participants exchanging innovative strategies and best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting.
According to the AfDB, the training is part of a wider strategy to boost institutional and human capacity in Africa, with AI expected to play a pivotal role in achieving socio-economic transformation goals under Agenda 2063’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan.
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