Webinar on gender-sensitive research practice in the development and deployment of responsible AI in Africa 

On Monday 24 April 2023 , at 13:00 GMT, the IPAR Think Tank is organising a webinar on the theme " Gender-sensitive research practice in the development and deployment of responsible AI in Africa "

Indeed, IPAR prioritises reflection and research on technology, in particular Artificial Intelligence, for the empowerment of women within its thematic framework. Promoting gender equality and inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa through artificial intelligence is a key area for the organisation and several initiatives, including GRAIN (Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Network).

The upcoming webinar aligns perfectly with the project's goals of advancing the inclusion, equality and empowerment of women in sub-Saharan Africa through the responsible and localised development and deployment of AI innovations.

The main objective of the webinar is to reflect on the challenges posed by structural and systematic obstacles to the promotion of gender equality and inclusion in the AI sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

The virtual meeting will bring together experts in AI and gender, and will focus on innovative practices and technologies that bridge the gap between AI and gender. It will highlight the importance of using the potential of AI to advance gender equality and reduce gender disparities in the digital sector.

The discussion will be hosted on the Kudo platform and will be in English with French interpretation.

Moderated by Ernest Mwebaze, Executive Director of Sunbird AI, Uganda , the panel will include the following speakers: Nokuthula Olorunju, Research ICT Africa, South Africa; Dr Adekemi Omutubora, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria; Adedeji Adeniran, Director of Research, CSEA Nigeria; Caitlin Kraft-Bruchmann - CEO and Founder of Women at the Table. 

                                Speakers' biographies 

  • Moderator: Ernest Mwebaze, Executive Director Sunbird AI

Ernest Mwebaze is the Executive Director of Sunbird AI and co-founder of Makerere University's artificial intelligence research laboratory. Previously, he worked at the Google AI research laboratory in Ghana and at the UN's Pulse laboratory in Kampala. He is passionate about using artificial intelligence to improve society, particularly in developing regions of the world. 

  • Adekemi Omotubora is a lecturer at the University of Lagos. She is passionate about data protection, digital inclusion and the gender aspects of digital technologies, and organises events around these themes.
  • Nokuthula Olorunju is a lawyer and researcher. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in law, specialising in cyberspace and information and communication technology (ICT) law. She has written on issues of gender equality, human rights, artificial intelligence and the judiciary, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the field of human rights and artificial intelligence.
  • Adedeji Peter Adeniran is Director of Research at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA Africa), a development think tank based in Nigeria. His recent work focuses on the intersection of governance, digitisation and development in Africa. He is also part of the GRAIN (Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Network) project, which is building a network of institutions around advocacy and research on AI and gender.
  • Caitlin Kraft-Buchman is Executive Director and founder of Women at the Table, a fast-growing global CSO based in Geneva - and the first organisation to focus on systems change by helping women gain influence in sectors that have a key structural impact: the economy, democracy and governance etc. She is also one of the three co-founders of the International Gender Champions (IGC), a network of female and male decision-makers aiming to break down gender barriers in order to change the system. 
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