Minister of Higher Education Dr Jessie Kabwila has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence (AI)
Speaking during a Ministrial Dialogue on Wednesday, at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Bangkok, she commended UNESCO and the Thai Government for convening a platform that unites global leaders and AI experts to tackle the ethical challenges of distruptive and emerging technologies.
Dr Kabwila acknowledged that Malawi has not yet passed a dedicated AI law but noted that the country is making progress through its nearly completed Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) report, in line with UNESCO’s guidelines.
She highlighted recent legal developments including the Data Protection Act (2024), National Digitalisation Policy (2023–2028), and other key laws that provide a strong foundation for responsible AI use.
Dr. Kabwila stated that the country’s endorsement of the Windhoek Statement and the AU Declaration on AI, as well as its efforts to ratify the Malabo Convention, highlight that Malawi is also participating in broader continental initiatives.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that AI systems reflect Malawi’s diverse cultural landscape, which includes various ethnic groups such as the Chewa, Yao, Tumbuka, Lomwe, and Ngoni.
The Minister stated that Despite limited research funding—only 0.176% of GDP—Malawi is seeing growing interest in AI stating that Universities have begun integrating AI into their curricula, and institutions like the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and STEAM Education (CAIST) and Kuyesera AI Lab (KAI) are taking the lead and in the private sector, startups like Nxtgen Lab and mHub are innovating with support from local funding programmes and development grants.
Dr Kabwila raised concerns about digital access and affordability. Only 27.7% of the population is online, just 4.2% of households own a computer, and mobile data costs remain high, urging for more coordinated investment in infrastructure—especially in cybersecurity, energy, and affordable technology—to support AI development and access across the country.
Her passionate submission in all her interventions levitated on the need to establish a dynamic, adaptive and agile Regional Hub for AI in Malawi for the Southern Africa.
She emphasised the critical role of education, particularly digital and AI literacy, in building an ethical AI ecosystem.
With Malawi’s literacy rate at 62%, she called for empowering students and researchers to innovate responsibly.
The Minister therefore reaffirmed Malawi’s commitment to an inclusive and well-regulated AI future, but noted that stronger investment and better inter-agency coordination (IAC) are key to achieving full AI readiness.