Kenya has taken a monumental step toward advancing Africa’s digital and green transformation with the launch of the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling and the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub. The initiatives, unveiled at Konza Technopolis, are a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy (MICDE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation.
The AI Skilling Centre, located at the Kenya School of Government, aims to revolutionize the public sector by equipping 100,000 civil servants with essential digital and AI skills. Already operational, the Centre offers hybrid training programs tailored to enhance governance, service delivery, and regional collaboration. Representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nigeria form the first cohorts, with plans to expand to other African nations in the coming year.
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping global industries, with corporate investment expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2028. For Africa, the AI Skilling Centre presents an opportunity to drive digital transformation, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and promote innovation in public services. By fostering AI fluency within the public sector, the initiative positions Africa to compete globally.
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Simultaneously, the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub is championing Africa’s green industrialization by focusing on innovation on renewable energy and climate technology. The Hub supports sustainable startups and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which promotes affordable and clean energy. The GreenTech Hub contributes to Africa’s economic resilience and sustainability by generating jobs and addressing systemic environmental challenges.
These developments are part of Timbuktoo’s larger vision to mobilize $1 billion over the next decade. The initiative seeks to support 10,000 startups, scale 1,000 of them, and impact 100 million livelihoods across Africa. Nairobi’s GreenTech Hub joins a network of sector-specific hubs across the continent, fostering innovation in fields like AgriTech, HealthTech, and FinTech.
The combined efforts of the AI Skilling Centre and the GreenTech Hub underscore Kenya’s commitment to innovation. By blending digital expertise with green technologies, these initiatives are set to transform Africa’s economy and pave the way for inclusive growth. As the continent embraces this digital and green revolution, the ripple effects will empower communities, create opportunities, and shape a brighter future for generations to come.
