The African Development Bank (AfDB) has thrown its weight behind a new artificial intelligence training programme aimed at strengthening the implementation of Africa’s continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office, the Bank provided technical and financial support for the fifth annual training workshop for African Union member states on using AI to improve monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.
Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth, a plan designed to transform the continent into a global powerhouse while advancing unity, self-determination, progress, and collective prosperity under the vision of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.
The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was organised by the African Union Commission in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation. It brought together representatives from across the continent to enhance technical skills in applying AI tools and digital innovations to track and measure development progress.
Participants took part in hands-on sessions using platforms such as Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity, exploring how these technologies can improve data analysis, drive informed decision-making, and support evidence-based policy design in line with Agenda 2063’s priorities.
The AfDB’s Lead Programme Co-ordinator, Abibu Tamu, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to working with the African Union Commission and other partners to accelerate progress on the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan. He emphasised that AI tools are revolutionising data collection, analysis, and reporting, making it possible to design more targeted policies and allocate resources more efficiently.
The workshop also served as a platform for peer learning, with countries sharing innovative methods and best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting.
