91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ

In a landmark move, UNESCO has launched a groundbreaking pilot initiative to assess how prepared six countries in Southern Africa are to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative, built around UNESCO’s globally endorsed Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, aims to generate comprehensive, action-oriented reports that will guide national AI strategies—ensuring they are not only innovative but also inclusive and ethical.

At the heart of the initiative is the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), a tool designed to help governments evaluate their capacity to adopt AI technologies responsibly and equitably. For the first time, this framework is being put to the test across the region—with Botswana and Malawi leading the way.

The rollout of RAM has been anything but theoretical. 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ been working closely with government ministries responsible for AI, innovation, and digital development to host high-level expert consultations in each pilot country. These gatherings bring together voices from across the spectrum—policy-makers, academic researchers, civil society leaders, and ICT professionals—to debate, evaluate, and build a common vision for AI deployment that puts people and ethics at the centre.

In May 2025, these consultations gained real traction. In Botswana, the Ministry of Communication and Innovation opened the floor to dynamic exchanges on the role of policy, law, and infrastructure in AI development. At the same time in Malawi, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology joined forces with UNESCO to lead a robust dialogue on how education, science, and culture can help shape an ethical AI ecosystem. 

During the consultations, participants delved into draft reports and explored five core thematic areas crucial to assessing AI readiness. These included the Legal and Policy Dimensions, examining regulatory frameworks and governance structures; the Social and Cultural Dimensions, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and ethical concerns; the Scientific and Educational Dimensions, addressing research capacity and AI literacy; the Economic Dimensions, looking at innovation, investment, and workforce development; and the Technical and Infrastructure Dimensions, which assessed digital ecosystems, data infrastructure, and cybersecurity readiness. Together, these pillars offer a comprehensive view of each country’s ability to responsibly integrate AI into national development.

These consultations are more than check-ins—they are essential steps toward building an AI future rooted in trust, transparency, and human rights. By facilitating these cross-sector conversations, UNESCO ensures that the voices shaping AI strategies reflect the region’s diverse realities and aspirations. More importantly, the RAM reports that emerge will be tailored to each country’s specific context, providing a strategic blueprint for inclusive and sustainable AI adoption.

As the pilot moves forward, more countries in the region will undergo similar assessments, with final RAM reports serving not only as national roadmaps but also as a replicable model for other parts of the world. Through this initiative, Southern Africa is helping define how AI can be governed responsibly—not just used efficiently.

In a rapidly digitising world, UNESCO’s AI Readiness pilot proves that ethics and innovation aren’t opposing forces—they are partners in progress.