| At this week’s G20 conference on AI in Africa, UNESCO is unveiling a series of new innovative solutions and initiatives to enable the development of artificial intelligence on the continent, while protecting human rights. The Organization plans to train 15,000 civil servants and 5,000 judicial personnel on these issues. “Today, alongside the African Union and the South African presidency of the G20, we are working to put artificial intelligence at the service of Africa. Our goal is to spur endogenous momentum in Africa, by training talent, adapting institutions and responding to African priorities. Only in this way will artificial intelligence meet the real needs of the people,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO. In 2018, Audrey Azoulay launched a global initiative to establish an ethical framework for AI, recognizing both its potential for development and the risks it poses to human rights. Since the adoption of this normative text in 2021, UNESCO has engaged with 77 countries, including 29 in Africa, to transpose these principles into their national strategies and public policies. In 2024, the Organization also supported the African Union in developing its continental strategy on artificial intelligence. |
AI in Africa: UNESCO unveils new solutions for its development at the G20
New cloud platform transforms global air traffic communication
Air traffic control (ATC) authorities around the world continue to face challenges with messaging systems that are limited in their capabilities, operationally demanding, and slow to adapt to modern needs. These limitations can make it harder to coordinate across borders and keep pace with growing traffic demands. With the launch of SITA ATC Bridge, an innovative and easy-to-use SaaS (Software as a Service) cloud-based digital platform, aviation stakeholders can now replace legacy systems with a secure, seamless, and simplified solution designed to maintain operational efficiency.
The platform supports Civil Aviation Authorities, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), and regulators who need fast, dependable, and scalable communication across the ICAO ATS Messaging Handling System (AMHS). By reducing the cost and complexity of legacy systems, ATC Bridge opens the door to more accessible and resilient connectivity, even for emerging markets.
Inaugural East Africa Executive School wraps up in Nairobi
RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Foundation, and Strathmore University are proud to announce the successful conclusion of the first edition of the East Africa Executive School, marking a significant milestone in their joint mission to localize and expand a regional capacity-building programme across the continent. The initiative, held from September 22nd to 26th at the Strathmore University Energy Research Centre, was organized with the support of the Italian Government’s Mattei Plan for Africa.
The week-long training brought together senior professionals from East Africa’s electricity sector, carefully selected for their leadership roles and regional impact. Participants represented a wide range of institutions, including utilities, regulatory authorities, ministries, private companies, and academic organizations.
The curriculum covered key topics critical to the energy transition, including innovation and emerging renewable technologies; investment in energy infrastructure and grid flexibility; productive uses of energy and e-mobility; digitalization and cybersecurity in the energy transition; and carbon markets and data-driven energy access. The sessions were led by distinguished experts from CESI, IFC, Columbia University, GME, GSE, OffGridSun, and the World Resources Institute, combining academic perspectives with practical case studies and interactive formats.
COP30 Presidency Launches Maloca, Opening a New Era of Global Climate Participation
The initiative underscores the Presidency’s three core priorities: strengthening multilateralism, connecting the climate regime to people’s real lives, and accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Through interactive virtual environments, governments, civil society, and communities worldwide can convene, share solutions, and participate directly in the global climate process, expanding the reach of COP30 far beyond Belém.
At the launch, COP30 President-Designate Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago announced the opening of Maloca’s registration system for virtual events at COP30. The feature enables civil society organizations to apply to host discussions, presentations, and solution-sharing sessions inside the platform, creating opportunities for diverse actors to contribute directly to the climate agenda.
