East African Community (EAC) Partner States have agreed to establish a Regional Artificial Intelligence Technologies Fund to support research and turn innovations into practical solutions that can drive economic growth. The fund will combine public and private financing and is expected to attract investment to sustain AI development across the region.
The eight Partner States also pledged to promote African AI sovereignty by building systems designed for regional languages such as Kiswahili. The countries plan to train these systems using East African data, store them on regional infrastructure and ensure governance by local institutions. Officials said this approach will allow the region to control its digital future instead of relying on external technologies.
The commitments were adopted under the EAC Declaration on Artificial Intelligence during the 4th EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda from March 30 to April 1, 2026. The meeting brought together ministers, policymakers, researchers, private sector leaders and development partners to agree on how artificial intelligence can address socio-economic challenges and strengthen East Africa’s position in the global digital economy.
The declaration also proposes the creation of a Regional Centre of Excellence for Emerging Technologies to coordinate policy, research, innovation and skills development. Ministers further agreed to form an EAC AI Alliance linking governments, universities, industry and development partners to promote knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
Dr Sylvance Okoth, Executive Secretary of the East African Science and Technology Commission, said ministers committed to invest in shared digital infrastructure including high-performance computing, data centres, cloud systems, innovation hubs and high-speed connectivity. He said shared investments would reduce duplication, lower costs and improve competitiveness.
Ministers also prioritised human capital development. They agreed to harmonise AI-related curricula, create regional certification frameworks and strengthen technical and vocational training to prepare a workforce for an AI-driven economy.
The conference also supported youth and women innovators. EASTECO and partners awarded $160,000 to 16 enterprises, each receiving $10,000 alongside mentorship, incubation support and networking opportunities. The AI4EAC Innovation Challenge also recognised winners from over 3,800 students across 110 universities, with prizes including $30,000, internships and technical support.
According to a December 2025 African Development Bank report, inclusive AI adoption could generate up to $1 trillion in additional GDP across Africa by 2035 and create about 40 million digital jobs. Ministers said coordinated regional action on infrastructure, regulation and financing will be key to capturing these gains.
The EAC said the declaration marks a major step toward building a coordinated regional AI ecosystem and accelerating digital transformation across East Africa.
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