AfDB to unlock $10B to drive African AI; Anthropic signs with Rwanda for AI e-gov
Weekly News Digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
The big news this week is the African Development Bank and UN Development Programme (UNDP) saying they would “mobilise” $10-billion for AI development over the next ten years. Ambitious: the initiative will “invest in data infrastructure, computing capacity, technology start-ups and specialised talent development.”
It is not clear what “mobilise” means, and where the money will come from. We’ll follow this closely, as this level of funding in infrastructure and engineering should be a game-changer for Africa, even as India and China start to swing new AI tech development eastwards.
The other big story is Anthropic and the Rwandan government getting even more into bed. There was very little detail on the deal; who pays what to whom, who gets access to whose data. The focus is on supporting Rwandan healthcare, on giving Claude to government devs, and expanding the joint education initiative announced last year.
Finally - AfricaAINews.com covered the tie up between the SABC (South African public broadcaster) a few weeks back, putting Microsoft’s digital literacy and AI skills training onto the SABC plus streaming platform for free. With a certificate at the end for completion.
In an exclusive deep dive we interview Tiara Pathon about the initiative, why broadcasters are becoming multimodal with interactive automated content enrichment, and workplace skills-oriented. And why AI fits this picture.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Funding
African Dev Bank floats $10B AI initiative to accelerate growth
#Africa #funding #policy — The African Development Bank Group and United Nations Development Programme, alongside local partners, announced the AI 10 Billion Initiative at the Nairobi AI Forum 2026, aiming to mobilise $10 billion by 2035. The programme will support AI adoption across public and private sectors, create jobs, and build infrastructure and policy frameworks that bolster broad-based digital economy growth, they say. (African Development Bank)
e-Government
Rwanda signs AI pact with Anthropic targeting health and education
#Rwanda #policy #publicsector — Rwanda and American AI firm Anthropic signed a three-year memorandum to integrate AI across public health, education, and other government systems, marking one of Rwanda’s first major state engagements with a US-based AI developer. The agreement prioritises tailored AI solutions while fostering local tech capacity. No terms were disclosed. (AA Africa)
Ethiopia unveils new national AI platform to boost transformation
#Ethiopia #policy #digital — Ethiopia has launched a national AI platform designed to catalyse innovation across public services and economic sectors, aligning with broader digital transformation strategies such as Digital Ethiopia 2030 that prioritise inclusive access, capacity building, and AI-ready infrastructure. (TV BRICS)
Policy
South Africa to finalise national AI policy by 2027 seeking balance
#SouthAfrica #policy — The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies says South Africa will finalise its national artificial intelligence policy by 2027, aiming to strike a balance between innovation and regulatory oversight. The framework is expected to guide investment and public sector adoption. (iAfrica)
Tanzania seeks economic cooperation with Singapore, including AI tech
#Tanzania #policy #economic — Tanzania is pursuing closer economic ties with Singapore, targeting cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, and digital taxation systems. Officials highlighted opportunities to deepen bilateral investments and learn from Singapore’s digital revenue systems. (Xinhua)
BongoHive maps Zambia’s AI ecosystem
#Zambia #events — BongoHive has launched an artificial intelligence ecosystem mapping initiative to chart Zambia’s emerging innovators, institutions and enablers. The Lusaka-based technology hub convened industry stakeholders to identify gaps and collaboration opportunities, aiming to accelerate national competitiveness. The dialogue positions Zambia to coordinate talent development, research and investment more strategically. (BongoHive)
Education
Uganda introduces blockchain credentialing with ICT skills push
#Uganda #education #innovation — Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, in partnership with Spotlight on Africa and Algorithmic Partners, unveiled a digital certification system that secures training credentials and combats fraud. The initiative anchors an ICT hub in Mbale focused on digital literacy, AI, coding, and advanced technical skills. (TechAfrica News)
Nelson Mandela University builds AI career tool
#SouthAfrica #education — Nelson Mandela University has unveiled a homegrown artificial intelligence framework designed to bridge Africa’s career guidance divide. By aligning data insights with regional employment realities, the system seeks to empower learners with personalised pathways. Academics say the platform could strengthen school-to-work transitions and inform education policy. (Nelson Mandela University News)
Applications
Angola flying labs uses drones and ai for social impact
#Angola #applications #community — Angola Flying Labs is deploying accessible drone and AI tech to tackle community challenges like agriculture mapping and STEM education, empowering youth with skills and tools for sustainable development. The initiative is part of a broader effort to embed technology into local problem-solving and enhance innovation ecosystems. (Flying Labs)
Aga Khan Uni launches ai tool to aid early TB detection
#Tanzania #applications #health — Aga Khan University has launched an AI-enabled initiative to detect tuberculosis earlier in clinical settings, combining machine learning with diagnostic tools. The project aims to improve public health outcomes by identifying TB cases more rapidly, potentially reducing transmission and supporting health workers with data-driven insights in remote and urban clinics. (The Citizen)
Tanzania’s film industry explores AI for VFX and post-production
#Tanzania #applications #entertainment — Tanzania’s film sector is evaluating artificial intelligence to strengthen visual effects and post-production workflows, off the back of low cost new AI production tools out of China. Industry leaders say AI could shorten production timelines and expand creative capabilities. (The Citizen)
[ This newsletter was human oxidised and AI reduced ]