Addis Ababa, 16 May 2026 (ECA) - More than 200 participants from government, the private sector, academia and development institutions gathered online for a pre-Africa Development Impact Forum Stocktake Webinar Series to examine one of Africa’s most urgent development questions: will artificial intelligence become a driver of inclusive job creation, or a force of labour market disruption?
Held on 26 February 2026 under the theme “AI and Jobs in Africa: Opportunity or Disruption?”, the webinar formed part of the pre-forum stocktake series for the Africa Development Impact Forum, which will convene in June 2026 under the theme “Best Practices and Innovative Solutions for Job Creation in Africa.”
As artificial intelligence reshapes economies around the world, speakers agreed that Africa’s response must be deliberate, practical and grounded in the continent’s development realities. The discussion underscored that AI offers significant potential to raise productivity in agriculture, healthcare, logistics, finance and manufacturing, but that its benefits will not be automatic or evenly distributed.
Moderating the session, Tamiwe Kayuni called for “grounded, evidence-based dialogue” to understand how AI will reshape labour markets and what policies can guide the transition. She emphasized that the debate must remain focused on “practical, context-aware solutions that work for African realities.”
Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director of IDEP, said Africa is building an emerging AI ecosystem, but unlocking its full potential will require bold investment in infrastructure, research and human capacity. She also called for a mindset shift among leaders, noting that AI should be seen not merely as a tool, but as a strategic enabler of development.
The discussions underscored that Africa’s demographic profile can become a decisive advantage if countries invest now in the skills required for an AI-enabled economy. The continent’s young population is projected to grow by 450 million by 2035, creating a major workforce opportunity if education systems, training institutions and employers can equip young people with digital, STEM and problem-solving skills.
Camila Talam described AI as Africa’s fourth industrial revolution and said it could add up to 3% economic growth if the continent invests in infrastructure, skills and frugal, context-appropriate innovations in key sectors. She cautioned, however, that readiness remains uneven, with only Mauritius, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa currently considered “AI-ready.”
Speakers noted that Africa already has more than 2,400 AI-focused organizations, reflecting a growing innovation base across the continent. Yet they also warned that infrastructure gaps, low digital literacy, limited AI education, weak data governance and the absence of strong legal frameworks continue to constrain the continent’s ability to scale AI responsibly.
With employment implications of AI at the heart of the discussions, participants observed that AI adoption could create new jobs in SMEs and across sectors undergoing digital transformation, while also increasing the risk of displacement for routine jobs. This makes large-scale investment in digital and STEM skills, particularly for youth and women, a critical condition for inclusive AI adoption.
Dee Allen stressed that skills development, especially in STEM and digital literacy, is the cornerstone of inclusive AI adoption. She also highlighted the need to expand digital infrastructure, develop sovereign AI strategies, support locally grounded solutions, and provide SMEs with grants and training so that AI benefits reach marginalized communities.
The webinar also placed strong emphasis on data governance as a missing link in Africa’s AI readiness. Professor Fola Adeleke said the continent’s biggest AI challenges include data access, data quality, governance and privacy. He called for strong legal frameworks, including privacy laws, intellectual property protections and data-sharing protocols, alongside local-language AI models that can support inclusion.
Panelists further emphasized that Africa’s AI future should be shaped by local innovation and “frugal AI” solutions that are cost-effective and adapted to African contexts. Such solutions were identified as especially important in agriculture, energy and healthcare, where AI can address practical development challenges while creating new economic opportunities.
Jake Kendall urged African countries to focus on sectors where they already have strengths, arguing that strategic and targeted investments will deliver better results than broad but shallow ecosystem spending. He noted that AI-enabled service industries could position Africa as a competitive exporter while creating sustainable jobs and new growth pathways.
The discussion concluded with a clear call for collaboration among governments, academia, the private sector and development institutions. Speakers agreed that AI development is not a one-off intervention, but a continuous process requiring dialogue, investment, policy coordination and concrete action.
The session underscored that Africa can shape AI as a force for inclusive growth and job creation, but only if countries close readiness gaps, strengthen governance, invest in people and support local innovation. As the Africa Development Impact Forum approaches, the challenge is to move from debate to implementation, ensuring that AI becomes not a disruption imposed on Africa, but an opportunity designed for Africa’s development priorities.
For more on ADIF 2026: https://www.africadevelopmentimpactforum.org/event/adif-2026
Register here:
https://indico.un.org/event/1019394/registrations/26415/
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org