The initiative, spearheaded by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), aims to foster ethical AI development and strengthen international partnerships.

ACTS, a leading research organization known for driving sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation policies, is leading this groundbreaking collaboration between Kenya and the United Kingdom.

The fund focuses on advancing Kenya’s AI ecosystem by supporting projects that align with the country’s national AI strategy.

Target sectors include healthcare, agriculture, education, and public service delivery, with an emphasis on safety, ethics, equity, and inclusion.

Speaking at the fund’s launch, Ali Hussein Kassim, Board Chair at the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), highlighted the initiative’s twin objectives of policy alignment and institutional capacity building.

“Through this fund, our objective is clear: to strengthen UK-Kenya partnerships around AI to build Kenya’s AI ecosystem with a dual approach – policy and systems alignment on one hand, and institutional capacity building on the other,” Kassim stated.

The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund also prioritizes the development of ethical frameworks to ensure responsible innovation while empowering Kenyan institutions to enhance their AI expertise.

This dual focus aims to position Kenya as a leader in AI research and innovation across Africa.

Additionally, the fund is dedicated to addressing pressing societal challenges and fostering innovative, impactful solutions.

The initiative underscores the importance of inclusive growth and international collaboration.

The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund strengthens Kenya’s AI capabilities and serves as a model for sustainable AI development in Africa and beyond, paving the way for a future where technology benefits all sectors of society.