In partnership with the GIZ African Union, we're launching a call for policy papers aimed at strengthening Africa’s AI innovation landscape by tackling the policy and regulatory barriers that prevent Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from harnessing AI's potential.

We invite experts to contribute short, policy-focused papers that analyze these barriers and offer practical, actionable recommendations tailored to African contexts.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 
𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹:  Generate evidence-based insights to support more enabling environments for responsible and locally grounded AI development.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: African experts and researchers (independent or institution-based) working on AI, digital, or economic policy. Papers by two or more experts are welcome.

𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: Policy papers should be concise (2,500–3,000 words), evidence-based, and policy-relevant.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Papers should follow a suggested structure including an Executive Summary, Problem Statement, Analysis of Barriers, Implications for SMEs, and 3–5 actionable Policy Recommendations.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀
We welcome relevant topics, but priority will be given to high-impact themes within:
▪️ Regulatory & Legal Barriers: e.g., AI and Intellectual Property, Data Governance, Procurement Rules.
▪️ Market & Trade Barriers: e.g., Digital Trade, Standards, Competition.
▪️ Innovation & Investment Ecosystems: e.g., Access to Compute, Skills/Talent, and Investment barriers.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: 
Submit a 300–400 word abstract and a 150-word biography via email.
Submit to: 📩 [email protected] ➡️ Subject Line: AI Made in Africa: Policy Paper Proposal

Abstract Deadline: 𝟯𝟭 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲