The Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling was launched on October 11, 2024, at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi.
The groundbreaking initiative, developed through a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kenyan government, and Microsoft, seeks to equip public sector employees across Africa with transformative digital and AI skills.
The launch was a significant moment attended by key figures, including Anthony Ngororano, UNDP Kenya Resident Representative, and Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy. Their presence underscored the importance of building a digitally empowered public sector to enhance service delivery and innovation.
The Centre’s work focuses on empowering civil servants with expertise in digital literacy, data analysis, and AI applications, fostering a mindset geared toward innovation and effective governance. This effort aligns closely with Kenya’s National Digital Master Plan (2022–2032), which prioritizes equipping 300,000 public servants with advanced digital competencies.
By doing so, the initiative strengthens public institutions’ capacity to deliver citizen-centric solutions and supports Kenya’s broader development objectives, including Vision 2030. The potential impact extends far beyond Kenya, as the Centre employs a hub-and-spokes model to share resources and insights with other African nations, encouraging a ripple effect of digital transformation across the continent.
A multi-sectoral approach to support this endeavor presents a tremendous opportunity, as civil society organizations (CSOs) can unite with other stakeholders to amplify the impact of digital advancements. By aligning their efforts with the Centre’s mission, CSOs can harness these innovations to enhance advocacy, improve transparency, and strengthen service delivery, fostering greater collaboration and shared progress in addressing societal challenges.
The upskilling of public servants provides fertile ground for collaboration, as digital tools can help address pressing societal challenges such as access to education, healthcare, and social justice. This shared digital agenda can strengthen partnerships between governments and civil societies, ensuring that technology becomes a unifying force for inclusive development and equity.
The implications of this initiative are immense. It has the power to revolutionize governance by introducing systems-thinking approaches and fostering human-centered solutions. The focus on equipping public servants with skills to innovate and adapt ensures that the public sector remains responsive to citizens’ needs in an increasingly digital world.
Moreover, as African nations adopt similar models, the continent is poised to position itself as a leader in digital governance, attracting investment and driving economic growth through technology-led inclusion. With its commitment to empowering public institutions and fostering collaboration, the Africa Centre of Competence stands as a beacon of progress for a continent ready to redefine its future.
Nuru Trust supports the Centre’s vision and calls on other civil societies to join in leveraging these advancements to bridge the digital divide, ensure inclusivity, and accelerate development outcomes. Such collaborative efforts not only advance technological empowerment but also strengthen the fabric of social and economic resilience across the continent
