{"id":70414,"date":"2025-11-17T16:17:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atpsnet.org\/stage\/?p=70414"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:46:52","slug":"arise-gender-inclusive-ai-africa-higher-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atpsnet.org\/stage\/arise-gender-inclusive-ai-africa-higher-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"Advancing Responsible and Gender-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Capacity in Africa\u2019s Higher Education Ecosystem (ARISE)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Advancing Responsible and Gender-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Capacity in Africa\u2019s Higher Education Ecosystem (ARISE)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Project Duration:<\/strong>\u00a02025-2028
Grantor:<\/strong>\u00a0Carnegie Corporation of New York
Principal Investigator:<\/strong>\u00a0Prof. Nicholas Ozor
Emails:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>executivedirector@atpsnet.org<\/a>;\u00a0nozor@atpsnet.org<\/a>
Project Countries:<\/strong>\u00a049 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)<\/p>

Grant Amount:<\/strong>\u00a0USD\u00a0900,000.00<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project description<\/strong><\/p>

Africa\u2019s higher education system has great potential to drive innovation, research, and sustainable development across the continent. With more than 400 million young people aged 15 to 35, Africa has the youngest population in the world. This provides a unique opportunity to shape a generation capable of leading the continent\u2019s transformation, provided they have access to quality education and the right skills. To achieve this, universities and training institutions must align their programs with modern demands by strengthening education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These areas are critical for addressing major challenges such as food insecurity, unemployment, environmental degradation, and climate change.<\/p>

Among the technologies shaping Africa\u2019s future, Artificial Intelligence stands out as particularly promising. AI allows machines to learn, reason, and make decisions in ways similar to humans. It has the potential to transform teaching, learning, and innovation across the continent. Recognizing this, the African Union (AU) developed a Continental AI Strategy in 2024 to guide member states in using AI for inclusive development. However, the strategy also highlighted barriers, including limited skills, weak infrastructure, low investment in AI research, poor access to data, and minimal collaboration between universities, industries, and policymakers.<\/p>

To fully benefit from the digital economy and meet global development goals, Africa needs to train at least 5,000 doctoral-level scholars in AI and machine learning over the next five years. However, many universities still lack strong programs to prepare students for these careers. A UNESCO study found that only eleven (11) countries worldwide have approved AI curricula for schools, and none are in Africa.<\/p>

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is addressing this need through the project Advancing Responsible and Gender-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Capacity in Africa\u2019s Higher Education Ecosystem (ARISE)<\/strong>. The initiative aims to strengthen responsible and inclusive AI education, research, and innovation in African universities. Building on earlier ATPS work on AI for agriculture and food systems (AI4AFS +), ARISE promotes fairness, equality, and ethical use of technology while empowering African institutions to become leaders in AI development and application.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Goal and Objectives of the ARISE Project<\/strong><\/p>

The main goal of the project is to advance responsible and gender-inclusive AI capacity in Africa\u2019s higher education system, with a focus on doctoral and postdoctoral programs, to build a critical mass of AI expertise for Africa\u2019s development.<\/p>

Specific Objectives:<\/strong><\/p>

  1. Map institutions and resources in African higher education to identify strengths, gaps, and capacity needs.<\/li>
  2. Support 16 fellowships, including ten PhD and six postdoctoral positions, to develop a skilled AI workforce.<\/li>
  3. Organize sensitization events, hands-on training, and mentorship programs to exchange AI research and innovations.<\/li>
  4. Support the development and revision of AI curricula tailored to Africa\u2019s needs in selected universities.<\/li>
  5. Contribute to AI policy development at national, regional, and continental levels to sustain adoption across sectors.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Key Activities<\/strong><\/p>

    1. Map AI resources and institutions within Africa\u2019s higher education ecosystem.<\/li>
    2. Support AI fellowship programmes at doctoral and postdoctoral levels.<\/li>
    3. Organize knowledge-sharing activities on AI for development in Africa.<\/li>
    4. Support Africa\u2019s higher education institutions with curriculum development in AI fields.<\/li>
    5. Contribute to developing AI policies and strategies in Africa.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Expected Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>

      1. A critical mass of highly trained AI experts is developed through supported fellowships (PhD and postdoctoral), producing advanced research and innovation in responsible and gender-inclusive Artificial Intelligence across African universities.<\/li>
      2. Partner universities adopt and implement updated or newly developed AI curricula, supported by resource mapping, knowledge-sharing activities, and mentorship programs\u2014enhancing institutional capacity to deliver high-quality AI training and research.<\/li>
      3. National, regional, and continental stakeholders integrate evidence and recommendations from the project into policies and strategies, enabling sustained investment, collaboration, and ethical use of AI in Africa\u2019s development<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Project outputs (to be updated)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        FAQ’s<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        ARISE PROJECT \u2013 PHD SCHOLARSHIPS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)<\/strong> JANUARY 2026 | AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY POLICY STUDIES NETWORK (ATPS)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        1. ABOUT THE ARISE PROJECT <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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        a) What is the ARISE project?<\/strong> The project on Advancing Responsible and Gender-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Capacity in Africa\u2019s Higher Education Ecosystem (ARISE)<\/strong> aims to strengthen responsible, ethical, and gender-inclusive AI capacity across African universities. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the project runs for 36 months (October 2025 \u2013 September 2028) and supports doctoral and postdoctoral training to build a critical mass of African AI experts who can drive sustainable development based on local content.<\/p>

        b) What are the main objectives of the ARISE project?<\/strong> The project will:<\/p>