Research ICT Africa is gearing up to host its flagship 2026 Just AI Conference from 30-31 March in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are convening an exciting lineup of leading regulators, researchers and technologists, to explore one burning question: What would AI governance look like if justice, rather than capital, efficiency or innovation, were its organising principle?
The provocation draws on our Just AI Framework of Inquiry, which reframes global debates on ethics and fairness by placing justice at the centre of how AI systems are designed, deployed, and governed. An action-oriented tool for policymakers, the Just AI conference will mobilise its nine interrelated inquiries across scholarly and policy discussions to co-develop a reimagined role for African AI.
This newsletter primes our coming cohort for the discussion, while touching on the related and cross-cutting issues surrounding Just AI governance in our ongoing research and policy work.
Other updates from the month of March include:
- New research on Safeguarding Tanzanian’s Information Integrity by Liz Orembo.
- A new submission on the Draft regulations for the Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, by Dr Pria Chetty, Zara Schroeder, and Tshepiso Hadebe.
- A policy brief by Dr Pria Chetty and Research Associate Scott Timcke, on Strengthening Africa-India digital partnerships.
- Insights and reflections from the India AI Impact Summit and various Information Integrity engagements.
- Updates on our first AI Summer Policy School with Lawyers Hub, iNtaka Law Centre and the University of Cape Town’s Law@Work.
- The launch of three new projects, including School of Digital and Data Futures, Bridging Policy and Research Gaps for Just and Democratic Digital Public Infrastructure, and From Hashtags to Ballots: Youth Digital Activism and Democratic Change in the Sahel
See full newsletter edition for RIA insights, research, events and more
