New regional network aims to position East Africa as global AI contributor, not just consumer
Kigali, Rwanda — In a significant move to strengthen artificial intelligence capacity across East Africa, a new regional university network was formally launched on March 30, 2026, signaling what leaders describe as a defining moment in the region’s digital transformation.
The Regional Network on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research was unveiled at the fourth East African Community Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference at the Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together more than 450 delegates from policymakers to researchers and industry leaders across all eight EAC Partner States.
Building Regional Capacity
The network was launched under the EAC AI Alliance project, with organizers issuing a call for nodes inviting universities and research institutions across the region to join. The initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), and the German development agency GIZ.
The network is designed as the foundation for establishing an East African Centre of Excellence in AI, with the goal of positioning the region as a competitive global contributor rather than merely a consumer of emerging technologies.
“This is a defining moment for East Africa,” said Professor Idris A. Rai, IUCEA’s acting executive secretary. “We need to equip our universities, educators, and students with both AI knowledge and ethical mastery to strengthen the region’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.”
Three Strategic Pillars
The network’s work will be structured around three pillars: advancing transdisciplinary AI research to address shared regional challenges, integrating inclusive practice-based AI curricula to equip learners with industry-relevant skills, and supporting harmonized gender-responsive policies for responsible AI adoption.
The initiative aims to foster collaboration, advance AI research, and integrate AI into higher education systems within EAC member states, serving as a platform for knowledge sharing, joint research, and capacity building.
Dr. Sylvance Okoth, Executive Secretary of EASTECO, emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance. “Establishing the alliance will provide a platform to consolidate the various science and technology policies from the Partner States and develop a comprehensive regional Artificial Intelligence framework that will drive the uptake of AI technology for socio-economic development in East Africa.”
From Fragmentation to Coordination
The EAC AI Alliance was presented as the region’s answer to a persistent structural challenge: fragmented national efforts that have limited the scale and impact of AI investment across the Partner States. Rather than eight countries each navigating the AI landscape independently, the Alliance proposes a shared architecture uniting governments, academia, industry, and development partners under a common regional framework.
Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community, described the Alliance as a decisive turning point, marking a shift from fragmented efforts to structured, scalable regional action.
The Alliance builds directly on the legacy of the dSkills@EA project — the EAC’s three-year digital skills initiative implemented by IUCEA and GIZ — which trained more than 4,000 young East Africans and built cooperation ecosystems engaging over 300 private sector partners and 100 universities.
Young Innovators Lead the Way
The conference also celebrated homegrown innovation through the AI4EAC Innovation Challenge, which demonstrated that the region’s AI ambitions are already taking root.
The challenge engaged over 3,800 students from 110 universities across all eight EAC Partner States, with finalists showcasing locally developed AI solutions in healthcare diagnostics, crop yield prediction, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and public service delivery. Winners received prizes totaling $30,000 in cash, along with internships, mentorship, credentials, and compute resources.
The participation of young innovators was cited repeatedly by senior speakers as compelling evidence that the EAC’s AI ambitions are not merely aspirational but already underway.
Addressing a Critical Skills Gap
The initiative comes at a crucial time for the region. According to World Bank projections, sub-Saharan Africa could create nearly 230 million jobs requiring digital skills by 2030, yet skills shortages remain a major barrier to this transition.
Norman Schappel, Digital Transformation Cluster Coordinator at GIZ Rwanda, offered a grounding perspective that resonated strongly across the conference. “AI is not a technology fix. It will not solve our problems,” he noted, emphasizing the need for thoughtful integration of AI into existing systems and processes.
David Roos, head of program for GIZ Tanzania and the East African Community, underscored the importance of coordinated regional efforts in advancing AI-driven innovation, noting that the initiative was endorsed by EAC Education Ministers at their 19th Sectoral Council meeting.
A Platform for Collaboration
Universities across the EAC are being invited to serve as nodes for the network, committing to contribute their expertise to a collaborative regional platform aimed at strengthening AI skills development, research, innovation, and policy engagement aligned with regional development priorities.
The network will focus on teaching and curriculum development, research and innovation, capacity building, dissemination and knowledge exchange, and community engagement and outreach.
Convened under the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient, Inclusive and Innovative East Africa,” the three-day conference brought together stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and development partners to chart a coordinated path forward.
Building on Momentum
The launch builds on growing momentum across the region. In December 2025, IUCEA partnered with MindHYVE.ai to equip more than 170 member universities with advanced AI learning tools and internationally recognized certification programs, positioning East Africa as a future AI skills hub.
The emphasis throughout the conference was on coherence — ensuring that national initiatives, however well-designed individually, collectively advance regional objectives rather than pulling in different directions.
As East Africa’s young population continues to grow, with more than 60% of the region’s residents under 25, the network represents a strategic investment in developing the talent and infrastructure needed to compete in an increasingly AI-driven global economy.
The question now is not whether East African universities will embrace AI, but how effectively they can collaborate to build indigenous solutions that address the region’s unique challenges while contributing to global innovation.
The Regional Network on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research invites expressions of interest from universities and research institutions across the East African Community. More information is available at ai4eac.iucea.org.
