Nairobi, Kenya – March 1, 2024 – In a landmark initiative poised to shape the future of African elections, Yiaga Africa, African Election Observers Network (AfEONet), West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON), Election Observation Group (ELOG), and the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA), are proud to announce the Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Elections in Africa supported by the Luminate Group. This critical conference is scheduled for 16 – 17 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, setting the stage for a robust discussion on the opportunities and risks of AI integration in African elections.
2024 marks a pivotal year for African democracy, with over 20 nations embarking on multi-level electoral exercises. This surge in electoral activity brings into focus the increasing role of AI technologies in enhancing the efficiency and integrity of the electoral processes. The conference will delve into the evolving applications of AI, such as voter register management, voter engagement through automated chatbots, and the use of facial recognition technologies.
Conference Objectives:
- Gather a diverse group of election administrators, observers, practitioners, academics, and tech industry leaders to discuss the integration of AI from governance and observation standpoints, identifying both opportunities and risks.
- Engage in a critical debate to shape the principles guiding regulatory oversight for AI in elections, ensuring transparent and fair electoral practices.
- Launch a Regional Working Group on AI and Elections in Africa to advocate for a robust governance framework and to foster interventions that harness AI and data-driven technologies for elections in Africa.
The conference will convene 45 – 50 distinguished participants from African election management bodies (EMBs), election practitioners, citizen observer networks, civil society leaders, Big Tech companies, and regional entities, including the African Union. Over two days, the conference will highlight a keynote address, seven moderated panel sessions exploring AI’s intersection with election integrity, and dedicated working groups tasked with developing regulatory frameworks for AI in African elections.
