G20 : UNESCO’s contribution
A privileged partner of the G20
Acting as Secretariat of the High-Level Taskforce on AI, Data Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development, UNESCO is helping shape concrete outcomes. The Presidency year will culminate in the launch of the AI for Africa Initiative—a G20 commitment aligned with the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy—alongside a Technology Policy Assistance Facility (TPAF) to help governments translate principles into practice.
Building on its Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and readiness work with 28 African Member States, UNESCO brings evidence, standards and hands-on capacity-building to ensure AI advances are ethical, inclusive and development-driven. This partnership strengthens Priority Africa and positions UNESCO as the implementing partner of choice for sustained collaboration with African Member States, the African Union and G20 partners.
Conference on Artificial Intelligence in South Africa
The South African G20 Presidency, the African Union and UNESCO, together with leading multilateral banks, tech innovators and organisations, will co‑host the AI for Africa Conference under the banner “Unlocking AI’s Potential for Africa’s Development and Prosperity.”
Although AI could add US $2.9 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, the continent currently captures just 2.5 % of the global AI market and a tiny 0.3 % of projected worldwide investment. This conference confronts that gap head‑on, mobilising the African Development Bank, the World Bank and other partners to accelerate the AU’s Continental AI Strategy and Data Policy Framework.
UNESCO's contribution to experts' discussions
UNESCO, as a key knowledge partner participates in the following G20 working groups:
