Google has launched a new initiative, labelled the AI Skilling Blueprint for Africa, aimed at helping Africa close the critical skills gap.
The AI skilling blueprint is a comprehensive policy roadmap designed to support the African government in building a workforce well-equipped for the future.
Interestingly, 95 per cent of Nigerians and 76 per cent of South Africans agree that AI will be of benefit to them, according to a recent survey. However, not many on the continent have the required AI skills.
A 2023 International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) AI Preparedness Index report shows that Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the least AI skills (0.34), followed by Asia and the Pacific (0.52), Europe (0.63), while North America leads with O.74.
Doron Avni, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy, said the tech giant is investing in the continent to close the skill gaps and guarantee a prosperous future for Africa.
“Africa’s AI moment is now, and Google is committed to being a partner for the long haul. The AI Skilling Blueprint provides a clear roadmap for governments to build the workforce of the future. By also investing in AI-ready data and expert local organisations and partners, we are helping build the interconnected ecosystem needed for a prosperous, AI-driven future for the continent.”
Key components of the skilling roadmap
The AI skilling blueprint, which is a step-by-step guide to formulate national skilling strategies, will focus on developing three broad categories of AI champions, as highlighted below;
1. AI Learners: the general population, including primary and secondary school students who will gain foundational AI literacy
2. AI Implementers: those under this category include micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), professionals from private and public sector workforces, including policymakers and educators who will be trained to integrate AI tools into their daily work
3. AI Innovators: developers, entrepreneurs, and researchers with deep technical expertise dedicated to building the next generation of AI solutions.
Furthermore, the Blueprint identifies three essential principles that Africa’s national AI skilling plans should follow. They include:
- Ethics: integrating responsible use of AI and international standards into all AI skilling initiatives.
- Inclusivity: ensuring that AI skilling policies and programs are inclusive and do not neglect the needs of underserved groups, such as persons with disabilities.
- Effective usage: ensuring that AI skilling aligns with broader change management and digital transformation at schools, workplaces, and government agencies.
New commitments to data infrastructure and skilling organisations
Google is also supporting the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and PARIS21, with funding of $2.25 million to facilitate projects that build trustworthy public data sets.
With this support, national statistical offices can modernise their infrastructure, and decision-makers will be empowered with reliable datasets to address economic and other challenges.
“For Africa to drive sustainable development, evidence-based policymaking is indispensable. This requires accessible, reliable, and AI-ready data. This effort is a crucial step forward. By building a Regional Data Commons, we can empower African institutions with the data and tools they need to make strategic choices that will drive growth and prosperity,” Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa,” said.
Google also announced that social impact organisations, including the FATE Foundation, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), JA Africa, and the CyberSafe Foundation, will receive funding from its $7.5 million Google.org Skilling Fund.
The organisations will be tasked with embedding advanced AI curricula into universities and advancing crucial work in online safety and digital literacy.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the African Institute of Management Sciences on the Advanced AI UpSkilling Project, with support from Google.org,” Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation, said.
“This groundbreaking initiative is a direct response to the urgent need for deep AI competencies in Africa, empowering tertiary institutions, lecturers, and students in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. This strategic support aligns perfectly with FATE Foundation’s mission to foster innovation and sustainable economic growth across the continent, ensuring Africa is fully equipped to lead in the global technological future.”
On her part, Simi Nwogugu, President & CEO, JA Africa, stated that: “We live in an age defined by rapid technological change, and our mission at JA Africa is to ensure that African youth are not left behind.
However, even as we engage our youth in more digital programs and encourage AI literacy, we are fully aware of the harmful effects of unchecked online exposure and, therefore, invest equally in protecting their data, physical safety, and mental well-being. Through this support from Google.org, we will give young people the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.”
Google has continued to show huge support for the African continent. Last month, it launched an initiative to empower university students in Nigeria and 4 other African countries with AI tools to build capacity and drive innovation.
