AI and digital governance: A view from the Global South

This project is a part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development program, a five-year partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support policy, innovations and expanded leadership to spur safe and responsible artificial development (AI) development and use in Africa. The vision of the partnership is to support an inclusive, responsible AI ecosystem that improves quality of life for all in Africa and beyond. 

This project comes at a time when many African governments and societies are grappling with how best to respond to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. In particular, the continent is witnessing a critical moment: policymakers are establishing foundational rules for the digital domain, shaping the balance of power among states, corporations and civil society for years to come. Yet, evidence-based, context-specific research to inform these decisions remains limited.

To help fill this gap, this project will develop a curated volume of scholarly papers based on research from scholars and practitioners across the Global South. These papers will cover a broad spectrum of political, strategic and administrative questions related to AI and digital governance from Southern perspectives.

The project is expected to generate original, evidence-based research on AI and digital governance, specifically rooted in the political and institutional realities of the Global South. Building on this research, the initiative will facilitate strategic policy engagement by using the working papers as a platform for informed policy dialogues, targeted communications efforts and the development of actionable recommendations tailored for decision-makers, regional bodies and multilateral institutions.