The AI in Africa Policy Project (AI4D) proposed a mapping of artificial intelligence (AI) usage in Africa and associated governance issues affecting the African continent. As a flagship initiative for the IDRC, this project uses an approach that combines a rights and political economy perspective to assess what normative and statutory frameworks are emerging to safeguard human rights – ensuring, for example, not just data governance compliance in terms of data protection and privacy but also the promotion of data justice.
Following a dynamic and interactive mapping exercise, RIA will undertake an analysis of the data from a political economy perspective to understand the interplay between the state, markets and citizens in relation to the delivery of public services, particularly those that are public goods by public and private providers.
This will entail mapping initiatives on the continent such as digital and biometrics ID, computer vision and video surveillance, automated and algorithm assisted decision-making both in the public sector and by way of the governance of market, for example, where AI is being deployed for purposes of online work, private services deploying AI, as well as behavioural market research approached through the lenses of data justice and political economy.
The project will review thematic issues relating to AI that affect data justice, social justice and human rights outcomes. The themes of the research will include digital ID and biometrics, computer vision and video surveillance, automated and algorithm assisted decision-making, AI and the future of work, AI and gender, and AI and digital inequality.
Download the project brief as well as related policy papers and policy briefs below.
