Kigali roundtable spotlights responsible artificial intelligence for development partnerships

On August 20, 2025, the Canadian High Commission in Rwanda, IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) co-hosted a dynamic roundtable on the sidelines of this year’s meeting of the African machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) community known as Deep Learning Indaba.
Group photo of the stakeholders standing in rows in a conference room.
Emmy Chirchir
Stakeholders at the roundtable co-hosted by the Canadian High Commission and the AI4D program in Kigali.

The event showcased African-led AI solutions and researchers supported by Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D), a five-year partnership between IDRC and FCDO. It also reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to inclusive and responsible AI for development. Attendees of the roundtable included stakeholders from international agencies, academia, philanthropies and the private sector. 

Canadian Ambassador Julie Crowley praised AI4D’s value-driven, locally led approach. She shared her own experience with the program, noting its ability to unite diverse stakeholders and foster meaningful collaboration: 

I saw firsthand how relevant and efficient AI4D is. It offers an impressive support to a pan-African network of researchers, innovators and policymakers working to advance inclusive, ethical and locally relevant AI solutions that address development challenges. The program has also consistently brought together a broad range of stakeholders and fostered synergies —its convening power is truly inspiring.

Canadian Ambassador Julie Crowley, giving her opening remarks at a podium, while a participant listens in the foreground.
Kai-Hsin Hung
Canadian Ambassador Julie Crowley (right) giving her opening remarks.

The roundtable discussions centered on building robust African AI ecosystems through community engagement and policy alignment and by nurturing local talent. IDRC-supported research partners emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research, strategic partnerships and developing locally relevant models to ensure African communities benefit from AI.

The roundtable featured presentations from AI4D-supported AI labs that are training students and researchers across Africa. These include:

The African Union Development Agency shared insights on AI policy development across the continent, which AI4D is supporting.

Roundtable panelists sit in chairs at the front of the room and participants listen in the foreground.
Kai-Hsin Hung
Seated on stage are (left to right) Professor Damien Hanyurwimfura (University of Rwanda), Barbara Glover (AUDA-NEPAD), Juliet Arthur (RAIL Lab), Chenai Chair (Masakhane Hub), and Rendani Mbuvha (Africlimate).
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