Dr Tabani Moyo, the MISA Regional Director and IFEX Governing Council Convenor, has joined the United Nations network Promoting Responsible Innovation in Artificial Intelligence for Peace and Security.
Joining the network is at the invitation of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.
“We write to extend an invitation to engage the civilian AI community around the world, particularly technical practitioners in industry and academia, in addressing the peace and security risks arising from the misuse of civilian AI products.
“As part of this effort, we have established an African-based network of civilian AI practitioners and are keen to connect them with the continental policy community, in addition to existing international work,” reads the United Nations invitation letter.
In his acceptance of the invitation, Dr Moyo expressed gratitude to the UN and the African Union, which MISA and IFEX regard as strategic to achieving their respective goals.
“We accept with a deep sense of humility this responsibility, considering that at MISA and IFEX, the United Nations and African Union are strategic multilateral bodies that contribute significantly to the attainment of our respective strategic objectives.
“We have been working closely with multilateral bodies such as the UNESCO ROSA and SADC member states in the development of their respective AI strategies, with the latest being Zimbabwe, which will this year launch its own framework, hence our keen interest in engaging on AI in the African context,” said Dr Moyo
Dr Moyo is also a member of the African Union Working Group on Artificial Intelligence.
In that context, the AU Commission established and operationalised in 2019, a Working Group on AI comprising AU Member States and Pan-African Organisations.
The Working Group aims to harness the potential of AI and transform the continent in line with the AU Agenda 2063 goals, while managing associated risks and harms.
The African Union Executive Council adopted the AU Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy in July 2024.
In 2022, Moyo participated in the AU Think Tanks for Peace consultative processes, commissioned by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (OCPAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye.
The Network comprised carefully selected Think Tanks working in governance, peace, and security in Africa, and capable of providing the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security with independent, strategic analysis of critical issues in these areas.
In July 2023, Dr Moyo, as the Convenor of IFEX, was one of the 21 expert members of the global committee established by Reporters Without Borders to develop a Media and AI Charter.
The committee members were drawn from 13 countries and included academics and professionals in journalism, AI, and digital technologies.
Led by Maria Ressa, a journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the international committee duly delivered the results of its work at the launch of the Charter in November 2023.
MISA Regional Communique
