COMESA and Malawi advance regional AI governance and digital inclusion strategies

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched a four-day stakeholder consultation in Lilongwe, Malawi, to develop regional artificial intelligence (AI) and digital inclusion strategies. Supported by the World Bank and the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), the initiative aims to create model policies, regulatory frameworks, and an action plan through collaboration between the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society.

COMESA officials noted that while AI offers transformative potential for agriculture, healthcare, trade, and public service delivery, it also presents significant governance and ethical challenges. Malawi’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Dr. Shadric Namalomba, emphasized the need for the country to transition from a consumer of technology to a developer of AI-enabled solutions tailored to local priorities, such as climate resilience and education.

Parallel to these regional efforts, Malawi is working toward a structured national AI policy. This framework includes the establishment of a national AI regulatory body to oversee deployment and ensure ethical standards. The policy focuses on leveraging AI to enhance productivity in key sectors like precision agriculture and personalized education, while mandating robust data protection and governance to safeguard citizen privacy.