LocationsADC, UNDP, UNU High-Level AI Consultation
July 20, 2026
A high-level dialogue on AI was co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal, and the United Nations University in Japan. The event was attended by 46 representatives and 14 ambassadors from 31 African embassies stationed in Japan, alongside AI experts from the United Nations University (UNU) and the University of Tokyo. The objective was to clarify how AI and digital transformation (DX)—which were emphasized at TICAD 9, held in August 2025, and in Africa-led frameworks—can support inclusive and sustainable development. Furthermore, the dialogue aimed to strengthen relationships to concretize AI strategies, with a focus on governance, skills development, and digital infrastructure that benefits youth and women.
Through this dialogue held in Japan, the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) in Tokyo had the opportunity to connect their countries' development priorities with the utilization of AI and DX. This served as an opportunity not only to explore potential applications but also to grasp the challenges they face, thereby reaffirming the future direction for each respective country. Furthermore, toward building cooperative relations with Japan and UNDP, focus was placed on TICAD's philosophies, such as strengthening Africa's proactive ownership, sharing prosperity through cross-sectoral collaboration, and promoting multilateralism. Strategic dialogues were also actively exchanged between diplomats from various countries and the youth.
The dialogue commenced with opening remarks by H.E. Mr. Jean Antoine Diouf, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Japan and Chair of the ADC TICAD Committee. Noting the participation of numerous ADC members, Ambassador Diouf stated that this reflects a strong determination to strengthen Japan-Africa cooperation under the TICAD 8 theme of "Co-creating Innovative Solutions." Furthermore, he positioned AI as a powerful driving force that accelerates innovation and co-creation across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, finance, and transportation, emphasizing that Africa should become the primary strategic driver. Finally, he called for concrete actions to make innovation a true engine of socio-economic development and to achieve the SDGs, while urging the fulfillment of TICAD 9 commitments by clarifying positions on AI governance, accountability, and ethics.
Next, Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (UNU), expressed his appreciation that the gathering of so many participants amid global complexities, such as climate change and food security, is in itself a manifestation of a strong will toward finding solutions. He pointed out that while AI has the potential to transform agriculture, education, and public services, those who control data, algorithms, and computing infrastructure hold the initiative. He emphasized the necessity of actively engaging in this domain and cultivating multidisciplinary talent who understand not only the technology but also its applied fields such as healthcare, agriculture, and languages. Furthermore, highlighting the importance of Africa's large youth population and the potential of Japan-Africa cooperation, he touched upon UNU's role in promoting the inclusive and trustworthy AI outlined in the "Yokohama Declaration," expressing his hope that these discussions will lead to concrete outcomes in Africa's AI policies.
Following this, Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, presented "sovereignty," "scale," and "sustainability" as concepts Africa should prioritize amidst an unstable international situation. She emphasized that DX and AI are not futuristic ideals but practical tools for economic reconstruction. She also warned of a "Second Scramble for Africa" driven by resource exploitation, stating that Africa's own leadership must be prioritized in international initiatives. She then introduced the UniPods rolled out by UNDP with Japan's support, and the timbuktoo initiative targeting sectors like fintech and agritech, explaining that youth-led innovation creation is advancing. Finally, emphasizing a strategic shift from aid to investment, from capacity building to ecosystem building, and from isolated projects to scalable platforms, she called for the expansion of private-sector partnerships and investments in digital public infrastructure ahead of TICAD 9.
Lastly, Ms. Misako Takahashi, Director-General of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), noted that Japan-Africa cooperation is experiencing unprecedented momentum following the Foreign Minister's tour of Africa. She then explained the three pillars of African diplomacy outlined in the FOIP (Free and Open Indo-Pacific) policy speech: supporting peace and stability through PKO training and OSA (Official Security Assistance); promoting a virtuous cycle of growth through technology and human resource development, as well as AfCFTA cooperation; and realizing an inclusive society through youth empowerment. She emphasized that these pillars deeply resonate with the philosophy of TICAD. Regarding DX and AI, she highly commended the Africa-led "Continental AI Strategy" and introduced Japan's specific contribution: an initiative to train 30,000 AI and data personnel, along with 500 experts, over three years in collaboration with the University of Tokyo's Matsuo Lab. Finally, she expressed hope that this dialogue would serve as an opportunity to connect policy goals with inclusive development.
Next, Professor Yutaka Matsuo and Ms. Erin Hirakawa of the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo delivered a keynote speech on the utilization of AI in Africa.
First, Ms. Hirakawa introduced the AI innovation ecosystem built by the Matsuo Lab, which encompasses basic research, advanced education, industry-academia collaborative R&D, and startup incubation. She also mentioned that they have produced 42 startups to date. Furthermore, she explained the rapid growth of the lab's flagship educational program, the online course "GCI," and its English version, "GCI World," noting that out of 25,000 students worldwide, over 10,000 are from Africa, with participation from more than 1,000 universities. She emphasized that these initiatives significantly contribute to the goal of training 30,000 African AI talents announced for TICAD 9.
Subsequently, Professor Matsuo took the stage. Based on the current situation where African countries are formulating their own AI strategies, he outlined five common key elements found in these strategies and then presented three areas where collaboration with Japan could be most effective.
The first area is "AI Implementation." He stated that Japan can share practical best practices based on already mature technologies, such as crop monitoring in agriculture and remote diagnosis in healthcare. These are applicable in the African context and were positioned as an area where cooperation between the two regions would yield significant results.
As a second priority area, he cited the development of "Sovereign LLMs," emphasizing the importance of building foundation models that reflect Africa's diversity, which encompasses over 2,000 languages. He also noted that Japan's experience in developing LLMs tailored to its own cultural context would serve as a useful reference for Africa.
The third area is "Computing Resources." He pointed out that to address the challenge of infrastructure shortages, regional cooperation in establishing data centers and industrial collaboration with Japan could provide crucial support.
Finally, he concluded that the ultimate goal should not be mere technology transfer, but the co-creation of a sustainable, locally rooted AI ecosystem across the continent.
During the discussions, the importance of governance and the establishment of a robust international framework to prevent the malicious use of AI was emphasized. Looking ahead to TICAD 10, Morocco proposed the joint formulation of AI norms that respect Africa's realities and data sovereignty. Senegal pointed out the critical challenge of balancing the conflicting needs of building shared regional infrastructure for cost reduction with maintaining national sovereignty over security and data management. It was noted that a foundation must be laid for Africa to participate not merely as a consumer of technology, but as a "builder" of ethical and transparent AI.
Additionally, a shift from mere capacity building to ecosystem development was advocated, with the urgent need to train AI talent. Zimbabwe called for the expansion of partnerships into the education sector, appealing for early AI education and a "train-the-trainer" approach that generates economic benefits. Morocco introduced its initiative of accepting sub-Saharan students through university scholarships and proposed to Japan the creation of a "Morocco-Africa AI Fellowship" to prevent brain drain and promote "brain circulation." Japan's support for cultivating AI talent in Africa, such as the inclusive training programs offered by the University of Tokyo, was also highly commended.
The concrete implementation of AI to solve social issues is progressing. In Zimbabwe, crop protection against birds using Japanese drones and AI, supported by UNDP, is yielding results in the agricultural sector. Morocco is also deploying AI tools for precision agriculture and medical care, putting into practice the concept of technology utilization "by Africa, for Africa." To transition national strategies into continent-wide implementation, there are high expectations for strong partnerships with Japan, accompanied by "hand-holding support" and sustained funding.
Reflecting on the discussions, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, emphasized that digital infrastructure is directly linked to capital mobilization. For example, she pointed out that while UNDP supports fundamental infrastructure such as the AI Uni in Lagos and data centers in Ethiopia, the required scale of investment is massive. She then passionately advocated to "utilize Africa's capital for Africa's development." Noting the paradox that despite the accumulation of substantial capital in pension funds and sovereign wealth funds on the continent, Africa is borrowing at high costs, she asserted that mobilizing domestic resources is key to establishing true ownership of AI infrastructure. She argued for a shift from a posture of seeking aid to one that leverages local investments for sovereign growth.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, presented four pillars for successful AI adoption, summarizing the future direction. Specifically, these are "Values," ensuring accuracy and cultural appropriateness, such as preventing local cultures from being undermined by errors in large language models; "Behavior," establishing ethical standards required of developers; "Incentives," such as economic policies and tax systems to encourage AI adoption by startups; and "Policies and Regulations." He warned that compared to regions like the EU, Africa faces a significant gap in AI-specific legal frameworks. Consequently, he stressed the urgent need to train legislators capable of formulating policies that appropriately regulate the use of AI in fields such as hospitals, schools, and security. Finally, he concluded by expressing his gratitude to the participants for recognizing that AI is not merely a technological issue, but one that concerns daily life, human interactions, and the future of the entire continent.
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