It was in this spirit that a fascinating workshop organised by the Network for Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (GRAIN) took place. This innovative event brought together members of the GRAIN Consortium (CSEA, SUNDIRD AI, IPAR) as well as the beneficiaries of the GRAIN project. These talented and dedicated individuals are committed to exploring how a collaborative approach can shape a fairer and more responsible future for artificial intelligence and gender.
During this workshop, we had the opportunity to learn more about the research being carried out as part of the GRAIN call for proposals. All the grant recipients shared their projects with great expertise, offering different perspectives and innovative ideas. The topics covered were diverse and fascinating, including the impact of women’s involvement in food systems (the circular economy, agriculture, aquaculture), automated natural language processing for African languages, and the integration of women into the fields of science and technology.
Thanks to this session, participants were able to exchange ideas, find inspiration, gain new insights and share experiences. This discussion session on GRAIN-funded projects provided an opportunity for our beneficiaries – who are experts in various fields – to convey key messages relating to their areas of research.
Through collaborative work, the project leaders were able to exchange ideas, compare perspectives and propose innovative solutions to make their research findings accessible to a wider audience, whilst promoting responsible, inclusive and gender-sensitive AI.
One of the highlights of the workshop was the collaborative development of the model for the Network for Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence. Participants worked together to develop a strategic framework to guide the network’s future actions, focusing on the network’s various key elements across four components: network coordination, communication and dissemination, co-development of the network framework, and development of the Grain ecosystem.
The brainstorming session on the co-development of the network’s framework highlighted the importance of setting up topic-specific discussion groups within the network
It was decided to start with three groups, with a view to expanding this by geographical hub in due course
The leaders of the three (3) groups are:
Mrs Angella Ndaka, Ndaka (Kenya): Food system
Mr Adedeji Adeniran (Nigeria): Education
Mr Walelign Tewabe (Ethiopia): NLP (natural language processing)
Finally, the workshop concluded with an engaging poster presentation session showcasing the various projects, giving participants the opportunity to share their achievements and inspire others to pursue similar initiatives. These posters illustrated the diversity of the initiatives currently underway and highlighted the importance of collaborating to create an inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem.
The methodology for a survey on the role of women in AI in sub-Saharan Africa was also shared. The quantitative data to be collected with the help of network members will be a significant contribution from GRAIN and will form part of its advocacy for greater integration of women into the AI sector.
In summary, the workshop organised by the Network for Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (GRAIN) was an enriching and inspiring experience, highlighting the importance of collaboration in building a better and fairer future for everyone. By pooling our expertise and sharing our knowledge, we will be able to build a world where artificial intelligence is truly beneficial to everyone, regardless of gender.
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