**Artificial Intelligence: An Administrative Revolution at the Heart of African Challenges**
Artificial intelligence (AI) represents, for many governments around the world, a promising lever for transformation and efficiency. In Africa, this promise takes on specific colors, sometimes tinged with pragmatism, as the challenges to be met are vast. If we focus on the possible applications of AI, a fascinating picture emerges where the technology could simultaneously meet sustainable development issues and modernize often obsolete infrastructures, but the reality on the ground comes up against significant obstacles, and especially an acute lack of local data.
### A Continent in Search of Data
The first step to taking full advantage of AI capabilities is the availability of accurate, reliable and localized data. Any AI initiative, even the best designed, risks running into inaccuracies if the information on which it is based comes from culturally and economically divergent contexts. The World Bank’s statistical performance indicators reveal a worrying observation: in 2023, sub-Saharan Africa will define itself as a true “data desert”. With scores ranging from 27.51 for South Sudan to 82.37 for South Africa, these figures will speak to governments wishing to optimize their governance.
### Creating a Sustainable Data Ecosystem
For AI to flourish on the continent, it is imperative to invest in robust data collection infrastructures. The African Development Bank’s “Desert to Power” project, which focuses on solar electricity for connectivity solutions, demonstrates how innovative solutions can emerge from renewable energies. However, it is essential that these projects do not remain isolated. A systematic approach to creating a sustainable data exchange ecosystem must be put in place.
Initiatives such as Good Governance Africa’s (GGA) Governance Performance Index, which assesses local governance, show that NGOs can play a central role in contributing to reliable databases, but these efforts need to be scaled up. The challenge is not just the quantity of data, but also the quality and relevance, which raises the question of digital education in rural and urban communities.
### A Collective Commitment to Transparency
At a time when transparency is becoming a fundamental imperative to build citizen trust, AI could also play a central role in the fight against corruption. AI-powered systems can sort through and analyse huge volumes of data, spotting irregularities in budgets or public procurement awards. However, these systems need to be guided by rigorous policies. Experiences of open data initiatives, such as those promoted by the Open Data Charter, show the importance of an ethical framework to avoid abuses.
The challenges of transparency through technology must also be seen through the prism of human rights. The implementation of AI technologies must align with social justice objectives and not further widen the existing digital divide.
### Training and Education: Investing in Future Generations
Another essential aspect that is often underestimated is education. For Africa to become a key player in AI on a global scale, a new generation of experts must be trained who are capable of designing, deploying and managing these technologies. Initiatives such as the Girlhype Coders Academy, which raises awareness and trains young girls in technological skills, illustrate the need to diversify skills in this area.
Collaboration between the public, private and educational institutions is crucial to building a climate of innovation. Promoting local know-how is not only a way to ensure that technological solutions meet African specificities, but also an opportunity to establish a dynamic of resilience in the face of socio-economic disruptions.
### Conclusion: The Symbiosis between Governance and AI
The promise of artificial intelligence in Africa is fraught with challenges and opportunities. Compounded by multiple challenges, the implementation of AI in the public sector requires not only an adequate data infrastructure and an ethical governance framework, but also a collective commitment to education and knowledge mobility. Beyond a simple technological adaptation, a real paradigm shift is required: making AI a tool for sustainable and inclusive development, centered on the interest of citizens.
It is imperative that African governments become aware of this reality: technology, if well integrated, can be a powerful driver of innovation and good governance. There is no doubt that by cultivating this data ecosystem and raising collective competence, Africa could not only catch up but become a digital beacon on the world stage.