AfDB projects AI could add 35–40 million jobs and $1tn in additional GDP by 2035. Capturing it depends on governments that can specify, procure and govern AI — not just buy it.
Government AI Academy · an AI10Bn program
Africa's public sector, AI-ready.
Cohort-based training for the officials who will govern, procure, and deploy AI across the continent — an initiative of AfDB and the UNDP AI Hub, delivered by the Secretariat.
Why skills
The opportunity is continental. The bottleneck is capability.
Skills are one of the five enablers of the AI10Bn model. The Academy is how that enabler reaches the public servants who turn national ambition into prepared, financeable projects.
Every graduate leaves with more than a certificate: a live project from their own ministry, taken from idea to deployment pathway.
The program
Three layers, one deployment pathway
Foundations of AI for public service
What AI can and cannot do, and how to judge it — curriculum developed with leading global technology partners.
AI for African government
Procurement, digital public infrastructure, data governance, energy and compute, and infrastructure project preparation.
Capstone Clinic
Each official brings one live project from their ministry and leaves with a deployment pathway.
Certification tiers: Certified → Practitioner → Fellow.
Cohort model
12-week cohorts with weekly live sessions
Country circles — learn alongside peers who share your context
Delivered in EN, FR and PT · cohort or self-paced
Founding Cohort — 250 seats · Cohort 1 opens Q4 2026
Applications open.
Apply
Founding Cohort application
The founding cohort is fully sponsored. Fields marked * are required.
Nominate
Nominating a group of officials?
For permanent secretaries, schools of government and partner institutions putting forward several officials at once.
FAQ
Who is eligible?
Serving government officials of African Union member states — from ministers to analysts. Unverified official emails aren't rejected; the Secretariat reviews them, and a nominating senior official speeds that up.
What does it cost?
The founding cohort is fully sponsored.
What is the time commitment?
Around four hours a week for twelve weeks, scheduled for working officials.
Which languages?
English, French and Portuguese.
What certification do I earn?
Three tiers as you progress: Certified, then Practitioner, then Fellow.
How are applicants selected?
Verification of official capacity, then cohort balance across countries, institutions and seniority. Your capstone project matters more than your title.