The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has entered into a new partnership with the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN-ODET) to help African countries improve artificial intelligence (AI) skills and expand Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
The agreement was signed during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. It marks an important step toward helping African nations strengthen their digital systems and prepare for the future of AI.
Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both organisations will work together to build secure, open and reliable digital platforms that can be used by governments across Africa. Their goal is to make it easier for countries to adopt AI while improving public services and supporting long-term economic development.
Many African countries are looking at AI as a tool that can improve healthcare, education, agriculture, financial services and government operations. However, several challenges remain, including weak digital infrastructure, limited AI expertise, poor access to computing resources and disconnected government systems.
The new partnership aims to address these issues by supporting the development of trusted digital infrastructure that allows government services to work together more efficiently. It will also help countries improve digital identity systems and make government platforms more connected and accessible.
As part of the agreement, ATU and UN-ODET will provide technical support, encourage knowledge sharing and assist governments in creating strong AI policies. They will also promote the use of international standards and best practices to ensure AI technologies are developed and used responsibly across the continent.
According to the organisations, the partnership will focus on building AI capacity and Digital Public Infrastructure that is open, secure and responsive to the needs of African countries. They believe stronger cooperation will help member states adopt modern digital technologies while protecting users and supporting innovation.
ATU also called on governments, private companies, universities, development partners and technology innovators to join the initiative. The organisation stressed that building Africa’s digital future requires cooperation from every sector.
It said the continent needs a digital ecosystem that is secure, connected and designed to meet Africa’s unique needs. By working together, stakeholders can help create more opportunities for businesses, improve access to digital services and strengthen economic growth.
The partnership also supports Africa’s wider ambition to play a more active role in global discussions about artificial intelligence. Instead of only using technologies created elsewhere, African countries want to contribute to shaping international AI policies and standards.
The agreement complements ongoing efforts by the International Telecommunication Union and other global organisations to promote responsible AI development and strengthen digital capacity in developing countries.
The signing took place during a week-long gathering in Geneva where governments, international organisations and technology leaders discussed the future of artificial intelligence, digital cooperation and global technology governance. African representatives used the event to push for stronger involvement in international decisions that will shape the future of AI.
The partnership is expected to help African nations build stronger digital foundations, improve public services and ensure the continent is better prepared to benefit from the opportunities created by artificial intelligence.
