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Italy-India-Kenya AI Pact to Drive Inclusive Innovation Across Africa

Italy, India, and Kenya have formed a trilateral AI cooperation agreement aimed at fostering inclusive, locally-driven innovation across Africa. The pact emphasizes co-creation, data sovereignty, and developing AI tools that reflect African social and economic contexts. It targets key sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, with goals of launching 15 pilot applications by 2026 and expanding to 100 projects. The initiative was highlighted alongside the growing adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, now endorsed by 91 countries and organizations.

Key Points: Italy, India, Kenya AI Pact Boosts Inclusive Innovation in Africa

  • Fosters African-led AI development
  • Ensures data sovereignty for nations
  • Targets agriculture, healthcare, education
  • Aims for 15 pilot apps by 2026
  • Supports ethical and inclusive AI
2 min read

AI pact between Italy, India and Kenya to boost inclusive innovation: Report

New trilateral AI agreement focuses on local empowerment, data sovereignty, and 100+ projects for sustainable development in Africa.

"AI-driven development across Africa, with a strong emphasis on local empowerment, sustainability, and inclusive innovation - AIBase.ng report"

New Delhi, Feb 24

The trilateral cooperation agreement on artificial intelligence at the AI Impact Summit between Italy, India and Kenya will foster "AI-driven development across Africa, with a strong emphasis on local empowerment, sustainability, and inclusive innovation," a new report has said.

The report from AIBase.ng said the initiative emphasises co‑creation and African‑led development ensuring that AI tools reflect the social, economic, and cultural contexts of African communities.

The new initiative is more collaborative unlike "traditional AI partnerships, which often involve technology transfer from developed countries," the report suggested.

Further, the new pact supports data sovereignty, ensuring that African nations control their own data and AI systems.

AI solutions developed under this agreement will target challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education and financial inclusion, the report further said.

Short‑term goals under the agreement include launching 15 pilot AI applications by the end of 2026, while long‑term ambitions aim to expand to around 100 projects across the continent, the report further said.

The agreement emphasises ethical and inclusive AI, reducing the risk of technologies that may not suit local contexts and includes research networks, computing resources, and digital platforms to support AI innovation.

The partnership reinforces Kenya's position as a regional technology hub and gateway for innovation across Africa and India will gain from robust South-South cooperation and showcasing scalable, human-centric digital solutions, the Nigeria-based media house said.

"Italy acts as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa, leveraging initiatives such as the Mattei Plan's AI Hub for Sustainable Development to facilitate collaboration," it added.

The 'AI Impact Summit 2026', held in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, marking a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence.

"As on February 21, 2026, 88 countries and international organisations had endorsed this declaration. Since then, 3 more countries - Bangladesh, Costa Rica and Guatemala - have joined the declaration, taking the total number of signatories to 91 countries and organisations," Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a statement.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in development tech, I'm cautiously optimistic. The emphasis on "co-creation" and local context is the right approach. Hope the pilot projects are designed with real community input, not just top-down solutions.
R
Rohit P
South-South cooperation at its best! India and Kenya have similar challenges in agriculture and healthcare. Sharing our Aadhaar and UPI lessons can help them leapfrog. Proud to see New Delhi hosting such summits.
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Priya S
Good step, but the proof will be in the implementation. We need to ensure Indian companies don't just see this as a new market to exploit, but genuinely transfer knowledge and build local capacity. The 2026 timeline seems ambitious.
V
Vikram M
91 countries signing the declaration is impressive! This global consensus on ethical, inclusive AI is needed. Hope it translates to real governance frameworks that protect people, not just corporate interests.
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Karthik V
Focusing on agriculture and financial inclusion first is smart. AI for crop prediction and digital payments can have immediate impact. Italy's role as a bridge to Europe adds valuable funding and research heft. Solid partnership.

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