African Development Bank Launches Free AI Training for Public Officials Across Africa

The African Development Bank Group, together with UNDP AI Hub for Sustainable Development, Google and Apolitical, has launched a free AI training programme for public officials across Africa 【source](https://techafricanews.com/2026/09/28/african-development-bank-free-ai-training-public-officials-africa/).

The programme, announced on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, offers self‑paced courses such as “AI Fundamentals for Public Servants: Opportunities, Risks and Strategies” and “AI Leadership in Government: Building Trust, Skills and an Innovative Culture”. Content is developed by Stanford University Online and SDA Bocconi School of Management, while Google and Apolitical provide the learning platform.

What this means for Kenyan businesses

Kenyan officials who take part in the training may begin to apply AI tools in various government functions. Businesses should consider how AI‑driven processes could affect procurement, licensing and other interactions with public agencies and think about ways to engage with any pilot projects that arise.

The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a G7‑endorsed initiative co‑led by UNDP and Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, aligning with Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. The African Development Bank Group serves as a founding member of the Hub’s Executive Steering Group.

The training forms the first step in implementing recommendations from the Bank’s report Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation. The report projects that inclusive AI deployment could add up to $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035, provided five enablers - skills, trusted governance, data, infrastructure and financing - are in place. Ousmane Fall, Director for Industrial and Trade Development at the Bank, stressed that understanding AI applications is essential for realising productivity gains.

Keyzom Ngodup Massally, Director of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and Head of Digital & AI Programmes at UNDP, noted that governments need timely support to strengthen institutional and technical foundations. The partnership with Google and Apolitical delivers that support through the Government AI Campus initiative, which already hosts courses created by leading academic institutions.

Enrolment is open and free to serving government officials and public servants in the Bank’s regional member countries, including Kenya. Participants can join at any time, progress at their own pace, and focus on topics relevant to public service delivery, digital infrastructure, public‑private partnerships or innovation.

Kenyan corporations operating in regulated sectors should monitor the rollout of these courses, as ministries may adopt AI‑driven tools that could influence regulatory expectations. Engaging with pilot projects may help firms contribute to emerging standards.

For Kenyan schools and vocational institutes, the initiative could serve as a reference for integrating AI curricula into public‑sector training, potentially supporting the development of future civil servants and private‑sector talent.

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