African lawmakers have pledged to boost legislative capacity in artificial intelligence (AI), data protection, digital health, and smart manufacturing as part of a coordinated push to shape the continent’s digital future through evidence-based policymaking.
The commitment was made during the inaugural Africa Digital Parliamentary Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia. The event was convened by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the African Population Health Research Center (APHRC), in collaboration with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), and the Zambian government.
Draft findings presented at the summit estimate that Africa’s digital health market could reach $6.5 billion by 2030 in an optimistic scenario. Organisers said the projections underline the need for policy alignment to fully harness emerging technologies and deliver inclusive development.
“The potential of AI-driven digital health to accelerate universal coverage through data integration and cross-border information exchange, the role of smart manufacturing in enhancing industrial resilience and job creation through automation and Internet of Things, the need Africa-led data governance frameworks for responsible AI development and protect privacy, and human rights, were at the core of the engagements,” said PAP and GSMA in a joint statement.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration, a policy document outlining shared legislative priorities and steps for ensuring that Africa’s digital transformation is inclusive, accountable and built on credible data and research.
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“Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties and the accelerating pace of technological disruption, this summit has highlighted the critical need to equip African legislators with the foresight and capabilities required to navigate the fourth-industrial-revolution,” said Behdja Mokrani, chairperson of the PAP Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology.
The Declaration calls for coordinated legislative action across sectors and nations, including frameworks to govern the ethical development and use of AI, data privacy laws, and initiatives to train policymakers in tech governance.
