UNESCO spearheads South-South cooperation in Africa for developing AI competencies

The seminar was organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Africa 21 Hub, in the framework of UNESCO's initiative on Digital competencies for teachers and school students in Member States of the Group of 77+China, supported by the South-South Cooperation fund of the Group.

The seminar was guided by UNESCO's AI competency frameworks for teachers and AI competency framework for students, as well as UNESCO's Guidance for generative AI in education and research, AI and education: guidance for policy-makers, and K-12 AI curricula: A mapping of government-endorsed AI curricula.

Speakers from Digital Moment (Canada), the FAST Foundation (Armenia), and the Global Digital Library (Norway), shared insights on building digital and AI competencies, as well as key regional partners, such as the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'éducation et la formation, the Conference of Ministers of Education of French-speaking States and Governments, and the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie.

Enhancing partnerships required for AI competency development

In her opening remarks, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, highlighted the seminar's role in advancing the Pact for the Future, adopted at the Summit of the Future in September 2024, and called for international cooperation to support developing countries in strengthening their AI capacities.

UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, highlighted UNESCO's dedication to supporting African development through education, noting that one-third of its educational budget is dedicated to the continent. "These frameworks are essential tools for reshaping education to meet the demands of the digital age," he said, emphasizing the need to tailor AI competency frameworks to the African context.

Ministers of Education in attendance also expressed the transformative potential of AI in education. Senegal's Minister, H.E. Mr Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, called for collaboration to seize this critical juncture, stating, "Digital education and artificial intelligence are key levers for transforming our educational systems. Let us unite our efforts to approach this decisive turning point together." Côte d'Ivoire's Minister, H.E. Ms Mariatou Koné, highlighted the role of digital learning in reducing inequalities, saying, "Digital education and artificial intelligence must reduce inequalities by providing quality education and promoting collaborative learning." Guinea-Bissau's Minister, H.E. Mr Herry Mane, noted the importance of digital skills, adding, "Digital skills are essential for leveraging AI. We are developing a digital programme and the necessary infrastructure to support this goal."

The two-day event included workshops led by Prof. Mamadou Kaba Traoré, who helped country representatives to reflect on and develop AI competency frameworks tailored to their national contexts. Through case studies from African countries including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon and international examples from Armenia, Brazil, France, and Norway, participants explored best practices in digital education and AI competencies.

Setting out a roadmap for continued cooperation

Mr Dimitri Sanga, Director of UNESCO's Multisectoral Regional Office for West Africa, reinforced the importance of Africa's role in the AI landscape, emphasizing the frameworks' guidance in fostering AI literacy and highlighting the seminar's collaborative foundation. "This seminar is the result of strong collaboration between UNESCO and the KIX Africa 21 Hub, which will strengthen over the coming months to provide continued and sustainable support for participating countries. UNESCO is committed to continuing its collaboration with countries and KIX Africa 21 to transform education in Africa," he affirmed.

As the seminar concluded, UNESCO and the KIX Africa 21 Hub reaffirmed their commitment to work jointly in supporting countries to integrate AI in their education system, preparing teachers and students to be creative and responsible citizen in an era of digital transformation. UNESCO and its partners also emphasized the importance of African languages and cultures in building inclusive digital and AI competencies in education. They highlighted the need for resources on digital and AI competencies to be accessible in local languages, so all students and teachers can benefit from the digital transformation. This approach aligns with the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, which advocates for an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, and secure digital future that embraces linguistic and cultural diversity.

By bringing stakeholders together, UNESCO and KIX Africa 21 Hub have laid the groundwork for a collaborative roadmap that will drive future digital and AI competencies in African schools.

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