East African Community Unveils Regional Framework to Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Development

At the 4th East African Community (EAC)  Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda on 1 April 2026, Ministers responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation, ICT, Education, and EAC Affairs adopted a landmark declaration on Artificial Intelligence aimed at accelerating regional digital transformation.

The declaration recognizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies as critical drivers of economic transformation, regional integration, and sustainable development across East Africa. It also acknowledges the leadership of the EAC Secretariat and its institutions in advancing science, technology, and innovation, alongside support from partners including the Government of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Germany, AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union Commission, UNESCO, NCST, and EAC Partner States.

The ministers reaffirmed alignment with key regional frameworks, including the EAC Vision 2050, the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy, and the EAC Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Deliberations at the conference were guided by the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient, Inclusive, and Innovative East Africa,” with emphasis on strengthening regional cooperation and coordinated AI development.

A central outcome of the declaration is support for the development of national AI policies and strategies aligned with the regional AI framework. Member states also agreed to strengthen the proposed EAC Artificial Intelligence Alliance to advance skills development, research, and innovation across the region through a coordinated network.

The declaration further calls for the establishment of an EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Emerging Technologies to coordinate AI policy, infrastructure, research, and skills development. In addition, ministers endorsed the creation of a Regional AI Technologies Fund to support research, innovation, and commercialization through blended finance models and private sector participation.

To address skills gaps, the ministers committed to strengthening regional AI human capital development through harmonized curricula, certification, and accreditation systems. They also agreed to invest in shared digital infrastructure, including computing capacity, data centres, cloud systems, and innovation hubs, to enhance scalability and reduce duplication across member states.

The declaration emphasizes the importance of harmonized data governance frameworks and coordinated digital infrastructure investments to build a secure and inclusive AI ecosystem that supports regional integration. It also proposes the establishment of a Regional Multi-Stakeholder Digital Leaders Forum to align national initiatives with regional priorities.

A strong emphasis was placed on African AI sovereignty, with commitments to support local datasets, African language models, and domestic cloud infrastructure to ensure greater ownership of digital systems and data across the continent.

The ministers also agreed to elevate AI as a strategic industrial policy priority, integrating it into national development plans and strengthening adaptive governance frameworks. They committed to promoting responsible and ethical AI through risk-based regulation, transparency, accountability, and alignment with international standards.

Additional commitments include strengthening talent retention mechanisms, reforming innovation and research ecosystems, promoting open science, and improving funding and evaluation systems for research. The declaration also calls for enhanced collaboration between academia and industry to align education systems with emerging technological needs.

Finally, the ministers agreed to strengthen regional and global partnerships to support the development and responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence across East Africa, positioning the region to play a more competitive role in the global digital economy.