The Africa Center of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling is a collaboration between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Government of Kenya, and Microsoft. The center, located at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, aims to strengthen innovation in the public sector across Africa by equipping civil servants with advanced digital and AI skills.
David Onby, Project Communications Officer for UNDP Kenya, highlighted the Center’s role in driving digital transformation across the continent. Inspired by Bangladesh’s a2i initiative, the center adopts a hub-and-spoke model to extend its impact beyond Kenya and reach other African countries to improve governance and service delivery.
In line with Kenya’s National Digital Master Plan 2022-2032, the center will provide training in systems thinking, problem-solving and strategic foresight to prepare civil servants for future challenges. Global technology leaders such as Microsoft and Google contribute their expertise to keep the center at the forefront of digital innovation.
The Public Sector Innovation Fund also helps civil servants apply new skills to solve real-world problems and foster a culture of continuous improvement. The center promotes quality education, decent work and reducing inequality, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Africa Center of Competence for Digital and AI Skilling marks an important step in Africa‘s digital transformation, strengthening governance and economic growth across the region.
