Artificial intelligence is gradually gaining ground in the modernization strategies of African administrations. Training civil servants now appears to be an essential condition for the success of this transition. The latest illustration of this development is Zambia, which launched, on November 2, 2026, a five-day training program for decision-makers, IT managers and technical experts from public institutions.
Organized by the SMART Zambia Institute in partnership with the Chinese group Huawei, this initiative provides free instruction delivered by specialists from China. The program includes language models, prompt writing and artificial intelligence agents. The stated objective is to strengthen the effectiveness of institutions, improve data-driven decision-making and modernize public services.
Administrative productivity at the heart of the ambitions
This Zambian initiative is part of a momentum observed in several countries on the continent. In Nigeria, a consultation conducted by UNESCO among 330 civil servants revealed that improving efficiency in daily work was the primary expected benefit of artificial intelligence, even before the improvement of public services.
In response to these expectations, UNESCO organized, in February 2025, two training sessions bringing together 80 agents from the Ministries of Youth Development and of Information and National Orientation. The instruction covered, in particular, public service design, project management, data protection and cybersecurity.
In South Africa, the integration of AI is also taking on an operational dimension. Launched in August 2026, the Batho Pele chatbot allows civil servants to access administrative circulars, legislative texts and news relating to public policies in nine official languages. For the authorities, this tool should reduce the time spent on documentary research and facilitate the responses given to citizens.
Skills that also concern public procurement
Beyond administrative management, artificial intelligence is beginning to be integrated into strategic State functions, particularly public procurement. On September 25, 2026, the African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Google and Apolitical, launched a pan-African training offer devoted to the use of AI in the public sector.
The program includes in particular a module on artificial intelligence-assisted public procurement, as well as instruction on the fundamentals of this technology and the strategies enabling its adoption to be supported in institutions.
In Ghana, concerns also relate to the conditions for using these tools. A program presented by UNESCO in June 2026 brought together 133 participants from more than 30 ministries and public bodies. The training addressed the evaluation of technological solutions, algorithmic biases, disinformation and surveillance-related risks.
The challenge of continuous training and measurable results
Kenya, for its part, is focusing on the sustainable integration of these skills into the career paths of civil servants. According to a review published by UNESCO on October 26, 2026, 1,239 agents completed a training course developed with the University of Oxford and offered in partnership with the Kenya School of Government, out of 2,730 people enrolled. A second cohort aims to reach 9,000 additional civil servants.
The Kenyan authorities plan to integrate this learning into the induction programs for new recruits, the training of leaders and continuous professional development.
This multiplication of initiatives reflects a growing awareness: artificial intelligence could become an important lever for the performance and competitiveness of African administrations. However, it raises the question of measuring results. Training courses, deployed tools and the number of civil servants made aware are not, on their own, enough to demonstrate an effective improvement in public services.
In Kenya, in particular, UNESCO’s review does not yet specify the time savings achieved or the possible reduction in administrative errors.
For African States, the real challenge will therefore be to transform investments in training and technologies into measurable productivity gains, while guaranteeing data security, transparency and the quality of the service provided to citizens.
MB / AGENCE ECOFIN
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