The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and GSMA have announced a partnership to strengthen Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. This is contained in a statement released by the UNDP in Abuja.
The GSMA is a global organisation that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop, and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Its vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society can thrive.
The partnership will support African-led AI innovation and accelerate the deployment of locally developed solutions addressing the continent’s development priorities.
It will also support AI solutions in African languages to expand digital inclusion and enable more people and businesses to benefit from digital transformation.
Through UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, the organisations will improve access to computing infrastructure for priority AI pilot projects.
The statement said the partnership would also connect African talent with real-world AI applications and support the deployment of locally developed solutions.
“The organisations will identify pathways for sustaining and scaling AI solutions developed through the collaboration.
“The initiative will leverage GSMA’s mobile industry expertise and networks alongside UNDP’s development programmes and innovation platforms,” it stated.
Aissata De, UNDP Officer-in-Charge and Regional Director for Africa, said Africa had the talent and creativity to shape the future of AI. “Africa has the talent and creativity to shape the future of artificial intelligence,” De said.
She said the partnership would connect innovators with infrastructure, skills and opportunities needed to develop and scale AI solutions.
According to her, the collaboration will support solutions addressing Africa’s priorities while creating opportunities for young people across the continent.
Angela Wamola, GSMA Head of Africa, said Africa’s AI future must be shaped by its own talent and reflect local languages and community needs.
She said the mobile industry could help locally developed solutions reach people and businesses that could benefit from them.
Wamola said the partnership would help African innovators move promising AI pilots towards sustainable services supporting inclusive digital and economic growth.
“The collaboration aligns with GSMA’s wider African-language AI work through ATLAS Umoja AI, launched with government and industry partners in July 2026.
“The initiative brings together expertise and language data from across Africa to support AI services reflecting local needs.
“The partnership will mobilise talent and expertise from UNDP-supported University Innovation Pods, AI Labs, universities and other ecosystem partners. “It is expected to accelerate the development, deployment and scaling of AI solutions across Africa,” she added.
