What would it take for global AI governance to work for the majority of the world, not just the economies that design and deploy the technology? As the first AI Summit hosted in the Global South, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 (16–20 February, New Delhi) presents a global inflection point to move beyond high-level principles toward tangible policy impact grounded in lived realities. For Research ICT Africa (RIA), participation is not symbolic. It is a strategic intervention to ensure that emerging AI governance frameworks reflect the structural inequalities, development priorities, and democratic aspirations of African societies.
Under our flagship Africa Just AI project, RIA’s delegation, led by Executive Director Pria Chetty, will advocate for restorative, inclusive AI systems that are responsive to the lived realities of Africans. In various sessions on AI Safety, Data Access and AI Democratisation, our high-level participation will leverage data-driven research and policy evidence from the continent to chart a concrete path forward, taking the need for new priorities, deliverables, and cooperative frameworks in global AI governance seriously. Leading several sessions at the Main Summit, and parallel multistakeholder convenings and research symposium, RIA is pursuing evidence-based policy recommendations for the public interest. See the newsletter for a detailed look at our participation.
Other highlights from the month of February include:
- Reflections by Anriette Esterhuysen and Liz Orembo, assessing the hits and misses of South Africa’s participation in WSIS+20.
- An interview with Mpho Moyo, highlighting the technical support provided to The Gambia throughout the domestication process of the African Union Data Policy Framework.
- An article by Dr Kola Ijasan on the promised rollout of Digital IDs in 2026, as set out in the State of the Nation Address.
- Three new qualitative After Access reports from Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, looking at gender and digital technologies.
- Announcements for RIA’s new Deputy Director, Naila Govan-Vassen.
See full newsletter edition for RIA insights, research, events and more
