Responsible Artificial Intelligence Network for Climate Action in Africa (RAINCA)

Network for Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action in Africa [RESEN-RAICAIA]

RAINCA is coordinated by a consortium of three partner African organizations, namely, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and AKADEMIYA2063. The three organizations have vast experiences and capacities in climate change, agricultural research and artificial intelligence.

The general objective of this Network is to advance climate action in Africa through the responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence innovations.

Specifically, the initiative will deepen understanding of how to develop and scale responsible AI innovations for climate action in sub-Saharan Africa, build the capacity of 11 groups of African innovators and researchers to develop, deploy, and scale responsible AI applications in climate action. It will also facilitate the contribution of African research to international AI policy and practice conversations.

Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa

IDRC and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency launched the Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D Africa) program in 2020. This four-year, CA$20-million partnership will seek to address the above challenges by supporting the African-led development of responsible and inclusive AI. The program will promote excellence in applied research as well as in applying AI technologies to solve development challenges and improve livelihoods for those living in poverty.

African scientists and solutions to adapt to and mitigate climate change through Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3 - 5 April 2023. The main objectives of this meeting were to provide proper orientation to the successful grantees on climate change, opportunities in artificial intelligence research, artificial intelligence community building and to share knowledge and experiences from the different grantees under the RAINCA consortium. 

The programme was also primed to develop the capacity of RAINCA grantees to track progress, document, report and share lessons on the implementation processes.

Participants  noted that climate change provides ample opportunities for Africa to strengthen its scientific capacity. It also noted that climate change has stimulated more African research institutions and experts to explore new frontiers of science to mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable populations, such as smallholder farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture.

On this note, participants emphasised the fact that research in artificial intelligence remains an untapped “gold mine” for Africa to better respond to the challenges of climate change. It was also happy to note that interest in artificial intelligence is growing among policymakers and development partners.

"The meeting has provided me with a better understanding of research being undertaken by the research teams and gives insight for scaling responsible artificial intelligence in Africa to improve livelihoods and build resilience to climate change”. Michele Leone, the Program Officer at International Development Research Centre (IDRC)