A Just AI for Social Good in Africa

On 21st November 2025, from 08:00–13:30 CET (09:00–14:30 SAST), ECDPM, in partnership with Research ICT Africa, will host a high-level event to reimagine AI governance through an African justice lens. The event will take place as a side event to the G20 Summit and in the lead-up to the EU-AU Summit.

This event is closed door and by invitation only.

Background

Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a duality for Africa - offering transformative potential while concurrently posing significant risks to several important values like justice and equity. Prevailing AI governance frameworks often fail to account for local specificities, thereby reproducing narrow and universalised approaches to regulation. For Africa to fully harness the benefits of AI, justice-oriented frameworks are needed - ones that address historical and systemic inequities, ensure equitable access, and embed African knowledge systems and lived experiences into AI governance.

South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025, coupled with the representation of both South Africa and the African Union within the G20, presents a crucial opportunity. This moment allows Africa to champion a just AI governance framework, transcending broad notions of ‘responsible’ AI and instead tackling political, social, and economic imperatives through an African justice lens. 

This event will explore how Africa can leverage global platforms such as the G20 to advance Just AI for social good, addressing both opportunities and systemic inequities. It will facilitate dialogue among policymakers, private sector leaders, researchers, and civil society to identify strategies for strengthening Africa's role in shaping AI governance that centres human rights, environmental sustainability, and restorative justice.

Speakers

• Mr. Dumisani Sondlo, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT)
• Ms. Hlengiwe Dube, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
• Ms. Akua Gyekye, ​Microsoft
• Ms. Pamla Gopaul, AUDA-NEPAD
• Ms. Chenai Chair, Masakhane African Languages Hub