Cameroon is fine-tuning its draft National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it’s first-ever roadmap aimed at transforming the country into Africa's innovation hotspot by 2040.
Yesterday, government officials and stakeholders met in the capital, Yaounde, for two days of national consultations on the country's AI future.
The proposed strategy centres on a vision: "to make Cameroon a continental reference point for AI by promoting sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that are deeply rooted in African values."
According to the government, the country's linguistic diversity, growing digital ecosystem, and governmental commitment to digital transformation lay the groundwork for this ambition.
The strategic objectives set out in the draft are broad. Cameroon plans to train 60,000 professionals in AI-related sectors by 2040, with at least 40% of them being women.
The government also intends to create 12,000 direct jobs in the digital and AI sectors, as well as ensure that AI contributes 0.8% to 1.2% of the country's GDP.
The plan also includes the development of at least a dozen locally trained AI solutions for sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and governance.
Another notable aspect of the plan is its emphasis on ethical and sovereign AI governance.
The government also proposes establishing a specialised national AI authority, the Autorité Camerounaise de l'Intelligence Artificielle, as well as a Presidential Council on AI.
These would be supported by a legal framework that ensures that AI development and deployment in Cameroon are consistent with human rights, transparency, and accountability.
Each ministry and public institution will establish an AI focal point to aid coordination and implementation.
Additionally, five AI centres of excellence will be established across the country, with the government aiming to train 4,000 individuals annually, including engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public sector workers.
“The process underway is part of a national drive to develop local skills and structure our digital ecosystem, which has seen a significant rise in recent years,” said Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon’s telecoms minister.
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