As Africa accelerates its embrace of artificial intelligence (AI), a growing chorus of experts, policymakers, and organizations is urging targeted policy reforms to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These businesses form the backbone of the continent’s economy, yet face significant regulatory and structural hurdles in adopting and innovating with AI technologies.
The push comes amid broader continental efforts to implement the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy and related frameworks. A key initiative driving the conversation is the “AI Made in Africa” policy paper series, launched by the Global Center on AI Governance in partnership with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and the African Union. This collaborative effort specifically targets the policy and regulatory barriers preventing African SMEs from fully harnessing AI’s potential.
Announced in December 2025, the call for policy papers invites experts to submit short, evidence-based analyses and practical recommendations. Focus areas include regulatory and legal obstacles such as intellectual property rules for AI, data governance and access, procurement policies and market challenges like digital trade frameworks, standards fragmentation, competition issues, and limited access to compute resources, skills, talent, and investment.
“The main constraint to SME AI adoption in many African contexts is not a lack of innovation capacity, but fragmented regulation, weak data governance, and other structural issues that limit their ability to use, adapt, or build AI solutions,” according to details from the Global Center on AI Governance. The initiative aims to generate actionable insights that support enabling environments for responsible, locally grounded AI development, particularly in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and trade.
Abstract submissions, requiring a 300–400 word proposal and a brief biography, were due by January 31, 2026, with selected authors notified by late February and first drafts expected in May. A modest honorarium is offered to chosen contributors, underscoring the urgency of producing Africa-centric recommendations.
This call aligns with wider optimism about AI’s economic impact. Recent reports, including from the African Development Bank, project that strategic AI adoption could add up to $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035 through enhanced productivity and new opportunities. However, experts emphasize that without reforms tailored to SMEs which represent the majority of businesses and employment gains risk being concentrated among larger firms or foreign entities.
Broader discussions highlight the need for agile, risk-based regulations, improved access to cloud infrastructure, AI skilling programs, and harmonized regional standards. Initiatives like the Africa Declaration on AI (endorsed by numerous countries) and proposals for an Africa AI Council further stress inclusive governance that prioritizes local innovation.
As the African Union Summit approaches later this month, stakeholders hope these policy-focused efforts will translate into concrete reforms. By removing barriers for SMEs, Africa could foster homegrown AI solutions that address unique challenges, drive job creation, and position the continent as a leader in equitable digital transformation.
