Local answers to global AI challenges: The ‘AI Policy Playbook’
Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds extraordinary promise but for whom, and by whom? Africa and Asia make up more than 75% of the world’s population, yet they contribute a fraction of global AI research output. This disparity reveals a troubling reality: the risks, rules, and rewards of AI are being shaped for the Global South, but not by it.
Change requires more inclusive and responsible AI development, use and governance. The AI Policy Playbook emerges as a practice-oriented guide for crafting inclusive, responsible, and context-aware AI governance—through the eyes and experiences of policymakers across Africa and Asia.
Co-created by the Africa-Asia AI Policymaker Network and the BMZ initiative FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All, the Playbook charts a grounded journey through the real-world complexities of AI policymaking in the Global South. It draws from lived experience across seven partner countries—Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda—to offer more than just principles but practical tools, insights, and strategies to shape policy that serves local needs.
It moves away from talking about AI ethics in abstract terms but tells of building policies that work right-away in emerging economies and respond to immediate development priorities. The Playbook emphasises that a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work. Rather, it illustrates shared challenges—like limited research capacity, fragmented data ecosystems, and compounding AI risks—while spotlighting national innovations and success stories. From drafting AI strategies to engaging communities and safeguarding rights, it lays out a roadmap grounded in local realities.
What can you expect to find in the AI Policy Playbook:
- Policymaker Interviews
Real-world insights from policymakers to understand their challenges and best practices. - Policy Process Analysis
Key elements from existing policies to extract effective strategies for AI governance, as well as policy mapping. - Case Studies
Examples of successes and lessons learnt from various countries to provide practical guidance. - Recommendations
Concrete solutions and recommendations from actors in the field to improve the policy development process, including quick tips for implementation and handling challenges.
What distinguishes this initiative is its commitment to peer learning and co-creation. The Africa-Asia AI Policymaker Network comprises over 30 high-level government partners who anchor the Playbook in real-world policy contexts. This ensures that the frameworks are not only theoretically sound but politically and socially implementable.
Download the ‘AI Policy Playbook’ and be part of the movement to make AI work for all.
