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Advancing Responsible Gender Equality and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Innovations for Agriculture and Food Systems in Africa (AI4AFS +)

Project Duration: 2024-2026 
Grantor: International Development Research Center (IDRC)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Nicholas Ozor; Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS);
Emails: nozor@atpsnet.org; executivedirector@atpsnet.org  
Co-PIs: Dr Henri E. Z. Tonnang, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), and Mr. Jorge Kwadwo Appiah, Kumasi Hive, Ghana

Grant Amount: US$ 383,504

Project Description

The AI4AFS+ initiative aims to enhance the integration of AI in agriculture and food systems across Africa by promoting responsible, gender-equitable, and socially inclusive artificial intelligence solutions. The program provides funding, technical assistance, and capacity building to sub-grantees piloting AI research and innovation development in agriculture and food systems. The initial cohort of 10 sub-grantees made significant strides in developing and deploying AI tools and innovations in agriculture and food systems but also encountered challenges in operationalizing responsible, gender equitable, and socially inclusive home-grown AI innovations at scale. The challenges include the lack of robust monitoring, evaluation of responsible AI tools, de-biasing data and models, and benefit-sharing mechanisms for communities. The AI4AFS+ initiative aims to address these challenges by evaluating the effectiveness of the developed tools in the first phase of the AI4AFS and responsibly scaling high-impact existing AI4AFS innovations that integrate GEDI supporting new AI4AFS innovations that address aspects of food security, and establishing an AI4AFS community of practice that can also inform Africa AI policies and strategies. Through these objectives, the AI4AFS+ is positioned to drive significant advancements in the application of AI in Africa’s agriculture and food systems, ensuring that these technologies and innovations are used in a responsible, ethical, equitable, and inclusive manner. The core focus is to provide comprehensive support to and identify pathways for scaling responsible, impactful, and equitable home-grown AI innovations in agriculture and food systems in Africa.

Goals and Specific Objectives

The AI4AFS+ initiative aims to responsibly scale up high-impact developed AI4AFS innovations to enhance sustainable transformation of AFS across Africa. This new phase also aims to support and catalyse a group of promising AI innovations in other food security components that align and promote responsible AI principles. The specific objectives of the AI4AFS+ are:

  1. Assess the effectiveness of the developed AI tools in AFS positioned to scale: This objective aims to foster integration of responsible AI practices by innovators including gender equality and social inclusion, ethical correctness and environmental safety.
  2. Scale existing high-impact AI4AFS innovations that integrate gender, equality, diversity, and inclusion: This objective aims to deepen the integration of responsible AI practices, gender equality, diversity, and social inclusiveness within selected high-impact innovations from the existing AI4AFS innovation research network by assessing the effectiveness and ethical implications of existing AI tools in tackling defined challenges in Agriculture and Food systems;
  3. Support new AI4AFS innovations: This aims to extend support systems to new high-impact AI innovations that address other aspects of food security, such as food access, utilisation, and stability that were not captured or covered during the first phase of the AI4AFS programme implementation.
  4. Establish an AI4AFS community of practice (COP): This objective seeks to establish gender and inclusive AI4AFS Community of Practice (COP). This community will serve as a dynamic platform for consolidating learnings, sharing knowledge continuously, and co-creating open-source resources, tools, practices, and policies.
Key Activities
  • Conduct comprehensive assessments of existing AI tools and their impact on various demographic groups.
  • Implement pilot projects to test the scalability of AI innovations while ensuring gender and social inclusion.
  • Organize workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building programs for stakeholders.
  • Foster collaboration among AI developers, agricultural experts, and community organizations.
  • Create platforms for sharing insights and promoting responsible AI practices within the agricultural sector.
Expected Outputs and Outcomes
  • Innovative AI Solutions: Development and scaling of AI tools that are gender-sensitive and inclusive.
  • Enhanced Agricultural Productivity: Increased food production and improved resource management through AI-driven solutions.
  • Empowered Communities: Greater participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in agriculture.
  • Sustainable Practices: Adoption of AI technologies that support environmentally sustainable farming practices.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Establishment of a robust Community of Practice for ongoing collaboration and learning.
Project Outputs

(To be updated regularly)