Africa’s AI Moment: UNDP Launches Groundbreaking Hub to Power Inclusive Development
Written By Maxine Ansah
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Rome, Italy — In a bold move to redefine the future of artificial intelligence (AI) for global development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, the first initiative of its kind dedicated to accelerating Africa’s industrial transformation through AI. The launch took place on 20 June 2025 in Rome, Italy, with a powerful call for Africa to lead the global AI revolution.
UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Marcos Neto, delivered a statement underscoring the historic nature of the initiative.
“The moment has arrived for Africa to lead, not follow, in the global AI revolution,” he declared.
AI is expected to add up to USD 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to PwC. However, projections indicate that less than 10 percent of this economic benefit is likely to reach the Global South, excluding China. Africa, in particular, holds less than 2 percent of the world’s data centre capacity. Moreover, only 5 percent of African AI innovators currently have access to the compute power necessary to scale their work.
This imbalance in opportunity and infrastructure has prompted UNDP, in collaboration with the Government of Italy and key private sector actors, to chart a new course. Rather than relying on traditional donor-recipient models, the AI Hub champions mutual benefit, equal partnership and local leadership.
The Government of Italy, through its Mattei Plan, played a central role in co-developing the initiative. The plan promotes equitable and collaborative partnerships between Europe and Africa.
“Italy’s commitment to moving beyond outdated models of development cooperation has made this historic moment possible,” said Neto.
At its core, the AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a comprehensive platform offering tailored support to African AI innovators. Several programmes were launched as part of the initiative:
- The AI Hub Platform: This tool will guide African entrepreneurs through custom pathways to AI readiness, bridging gaps in knowledge, policy and application.
- The Compute Accelerator Programme: This programme will support both AI ventures that are ready to scale and those still building towards that stage, recognising the diversity of innovation across the continent.
- The AI Infrastructure Builder Programme: Targeting African entrepreneurs, this initiative will help develop foundational systems including infrastructure and digital platforms designed to meet African priorities.
- The Africa Green Compute Coalition: A collaborative initiative to tackle barriers to compute access. Its first market assessment, also launched on 20 June, offers critical data and insights to inform future investment and policymaking in Africa’s digital landscape.
According to Neto, these programmes together mark a departure from paternalistic development approaches. They place African talent and vision at the centre, creating room for transformative impact not just within the continent but globally.
This vision aligns with a growing recognition across international development circles that technology, if equitably governed and deployed, can address systemic challenges such as poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. However, achieving this requires meaningful partnerships, capacity building and, crucially, access to infrastructure.
The launch of the AI Hub comes at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on the ethics and governance of AI. By ensuring African voices shape AI’s future, the initiative contributes to a more balanced and inclusive digital order.
Programme applications are now open, and the platform is live, signalling the beginning of a long-term effort to anchor Africa’s leadership in shaping the digital future.
“We invite Africa’s innovators to step forward as architects of solutions that will transform industries across the continent and beyond,” Neto concluded.
For more information on the AI Hub and related programmes, visit the UNDP website or consult the AI Hub market assessment published on 20 June 2025.