from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – THE Nairobi Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum has concluded with several announcements to fast-track AI infrastructure, mobilise capital and enable innovators to scale solutions across Africa.
The two-day forum that concluded on Tuesday culminated in among others, the co-design launch of the AI 10 Billion Initiative, a collaboration featuring the African Development Bank (AfDB) and private sector partners, United Nations Development Programme (UPND) and the AI to generate up to 45 million jobs across Africa by 2035 via targeted investments in AI foundations and adoption.
The initiative anticipates mobilising phased commitments of up to US$10 billion to fuel AI, so-called regional data embassies, core data infrastructure and technical support for continental AI policies and hubs.
The investment call is directly from an AfDB report that demonstrates AI-enabled pathways as a vital driver of productivity, employment and inclusive growth.
Another highlight on the closing day is the launch of the Harmonic Africa Startup Acceleration Programme (H-ASAP).
Italian-based Harmonic Innovation Group, partnering with the AI Hub, unveiled the programme to equip high-growth African AI startups with capital, technical assistance and market access – prioritising deployable
solutions in agriculture, health, education and energy.
“Every element of the H-ASAP embodies these values: from respect for dignity and privacy, to the empowerment of women and young people; from the construction of green infrastructure to the enhancement of Africa’s rich cultural heritage and linguistic diversity,” Emanuele Spampinato, CEO of Harmonic said.
Harmonic also signed partnership agreements with AI Hub’s innovators, Chestify AI and Africa Compute Fund.
“The partnership with Harmonic Innovation Group through the AI Hub’s acceleration programme compounds our deep belief that we are ready to scale our services to rural and community-based health clinics that form the backbone of Africa’s health ecosystem,” said Mustapha Zaidan, CEO of Chestify AI Labs.
Harmonic also announced the activation of the Harmonic Fund’s venture platform with an initial €50 million investment envelope, the establishment of the first Italian incubator in Africa, with a focus on climate tech, food systems intelligence, and digital public infrastructure, and the launch of a groundbreaking Nairobi–Italy– San Francisco–India innovation triangle for cross-corridor scaling.
Organised by the governments of Kenya and Italy as well as UNDP, the Nairobi AI Forum is a milestone since the launch of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development in Rome in 2025.
– CAJ News