Bridging the Digital Divide: Uniting East Africa Through Digital Inclusion
The digital divide in East Africa represents a critical challenge that extends beyond mere access to technology. The digital divide broadly captures the inequalities in access to modern information and communication technologies (ICT) across different demographic and geographic lines, in addition to digital illiteracy, which is the ability to effectively use them.
Build or Buy? Implementing AI Solutions for East African Organisations
The approach to implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions can vary significantly with specific use-cases. One of the critical decisions for organisations to consider is whether to develop bespoke AI solutions or integrate off-the-shelf products into their IT estate. This decision is key for large-scale digital transformation projects requiring substantial investment, as the limited resources within the East African region leave little room for failure.
Hackers, Heists and High Stakes: Safeguarding East Africa’s Financial Future
In the span of a weeks in 2024, East Africa’s financial sector was struck by a series of incidents, exposing critical vulnerabilities. In Uganda, a billion Ugandan shillings (UGX) were stolen by G4S guards from a bullion van enroute to Kampala. At the Bank of Uganda, hackers siphoned UGX 60 billion in merely 60 seconds - a sobering reminder of the high stakes in digital finance.
Securing East Africa’s Supply Chain Sovereignty: Navigating Global Shifts & Leveraging Critical Minerals for Regional Strength and Global Competitiveness
With increasing global tension, the concept of supply chain sovereignty comes into question. It represents the aspiration of nations to have greater control over key components within their supply chains to mitigate risks associated with foreign dependence.
Eco-Intel: Harnessing Technology for Wildlife Conservation in East Africa
From the savannahs of Maasai Mara to the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, East Africa is home to some of the most diverse and remarkable ecosystems. However, this natural wealth is confronted with challenges stemming from habitat destruction, climate change, poaching, and illegal fishing which are intensified by rapid population growth and urbanisation. The urgency to address these challenges has pushed conservation efforts toward leveraging technology to design innovative strategies.
Safe and Sound: The Applications of Computer Vision in Road Safety in East Africa
Road safety is a key facet of developing safer cities and improving civilian quality of life – with road accidents are the leading cause of death for children and young adults globally. Considering the prevalence of road accidents in East Africa, artificial intelligence (AI) solutions must be explored to achieve much-needed improvements to the region’s road safety.
Tap to Pay: Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Digital Transformation in the East African Banking Industry
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is reshaping industries across the globe, merging the physical, digital, and biological worlds. For East African banks, this revolution represents a crucial turning point - one where innovation can drive modernisation, enhance customer engagement, and streamline operational processes.
East Africa’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy: Crafting National AI Strategies for the Region in the Face of the Global Tech Revolution
Over 90% of artificial intelligence (AI) research is from North America, Europe, and China, with less than 5% coming from Africa. As the world rapidly enters an era defined by an AI revolution, East Africa finds itself lagging significantly.
The Delicate Dance of Tech Titans and Sovereign States: The Geopolitical Stakes Surrounding Data Ownership in Africa
In 2017, Kenya would go on to conduct what would become one of its most hotly contested elections to date, against the backdrop of the Cambridge Analytica scandal of 2016. Facebook, present-day Meta, would play a complicit hand in undermining this young democracy’s sovereignty via the exploitation of the country's data.
