Linked publication
The PACFAIE Review
An annual publication on AI ethics and governance in Africa. Summer school participants are invited to contribute articles aligned with each edition's themes.
Learn more
AI Ethics Summer School · 2026 · Online
From principles to practice: AI governance, power, and accountability
A four-week online program examining what it takes to move AI ethics from commitment to implementation across Africa — and what stands in the way.
1–25 Sep 2026
Fully online
4 weeks
$5 to apply
Now in its third year
An African lens on responsible AI
The school built foundational AI ethics knowledge in 2024 and examined corporate governance in 2025. The 2026 edition turns to implementation: what moving from principle to practice actually requires — and what is standing in the way.
20
speakers
4
weekly themes
8+2
sessions & panels
What you'll take away
The implementation gap
Where AI ethics commitments fall short, and why.
Governance in Africa
What the post-Kigali commitments mean in practice.
Power & accountability
How state and corporate power shape governance.
Who controls AI
Sovereignty, infrastructure, security, and IP.
The curriculum
Two 1-hour sessions each week, with 1.5-hour expert panels at the end of weeks two and four.
Week 1
Foundations
- Global frameworks & the implementation gap
- Africa's AI agenda post-Kigali
Week 2
Governance in practice
- AI policy development in Africa
- Corporate accountability & AI governance
- PanelAfrica's AI governance
Week 3
Power & accountability
- AI, cybersecurity & governance
- Government, power & AI governance
Week 4
Who controls AI?
- AI in warfare & propaganda
- Digital sovereignty, AI & IP
- PanelGeopolitics & state power
Speakers
Twenty thought leaders from across Africa, working at the front lines of AI governance, policy, and practice.
Full lineup announced soonAnnounced soon
Announced soon
Announced soon
Announced soon
Who should apply
Open to professionals, practitioners, researchers and students across Africa and the diaspora. No formal AI background required — what matters is genuine engagement with the issues.
Government & public sector
Legal & compliance professionals
Tech leads, PMs & AI practitioners
Startups & founders
Civil society & academia
How to apply
1
Submit your application
A CV, a short scenario response, and three essays — plus the $5 application fee.
2
Two-stage review
Background & scenario first, then essays — scored against a structured rubric.
3
Decisions by 15 Aug
Accepted participants pay a $20 program fee before the school begins.
Reduced program fees are available on request, assessed case by case.
At a glance
Dates
1–25 Sep 2026
Format
Online · English
Duration
4 weeks
Fees
$5 + $20
Key dates
01 July 2026
Applications open
05 August 2026
Application deadline
15 August 2026
Decisions announced
1 September 2026
Program begins
Partners & sponsors
Announced soon
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a background in AI?
No. What matters is genuine engagement with the issues — applicants do not need a formal AI or technical background.
What does it cost in total?
A $5 application fee at submission, plus a $20 program fee for accepted participants — $25 in total. Reduced program fees are available on request.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes. All sessions and panels are held in English and recorded, so you can access them after each session.
Can I apply from the diaspora?
Yes. Applications are welcome from professionals, researchers and students across Africa and the diaspora.
Is the application fee refundable?
No, the $5 application fee is non-refundable.
References & further reading
- Global AI Summit on Africa 2025 — C4IR Rwanda
- Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence — AI Expo Africa
- France orders civil servants off Windows — The Next Web
- Trump administration defends Anthropic blacklisting — Al Jazeera
- Generative AI as a weapon of war in Iran — Brookings
- Iran's AI disinformation campaign — FDD
- Meta and the 2025 Israel–Iran war — Rest of World
- Cyber warfare in the US–Israel–Iran conflict — CSIS
- OECD AI Principles (2024) — OECD · UNESCO Recommendation (2021) — UNESCO
- AI governance gap between policy and practice — Thomson Reuters
- Do AI companies make good on commitments? — arXiv:2508.08345
© 2026 Pan-Africa Center for AI Ethics. All rights reserved.