Rethinking ICT and digital technology policy designing to harness artificial intelligence for accelerating gender equity and youth empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Mainstreaming gender in information communications and technology (ICT) policies in Africa remains challenging since women and youths are disproportionately affected by AI technologies. The mapping of policy gaps and subsequent rethinking of ICT and AI policy development pathways to advance gender equity and youth empowerment in Africa was done. A case study design was adopted with a qualitative archival and reflective analysis of policy blueprints, plans, and strategy documents (62) from eleven African countries. High-level regional multi-stakeholder workshops were held in the ECOWAS, SADC, and COMESA regions. The policy gaps exist due to limited bottom-up consultative processes, policy incoherence, minimal multi-sectoral co-designing and co-implementation frameworks, and limited verifiable achievement indicators. Thematic analysis used NVIVO 14 software, and few countries referred to women and youths in their policy blueprints, with Liberia (14%), Sierra Leone (10%), and South Africa (5%) emerging high. Only Rwanda had an AI policy with no focus on gender and youth empowerment.