Google App./PHOTO; Pexel
Google.org has announced a $7.5 million initiative to strengthen AI skills across Africa by partnering with trusted local organizations to deliver practical, on-the-ground training.
The program will support both advanced AI training and foundational digital literacy, ensuring the continent’s next generation of innovators and users are prepared to participate in Africa’s growing AI ecosystem.
Under the initiative, the FATE Foundation and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) will focus on developing “AI Innovators,” embedding advanced AI curricula directly into universities and entrepreneurship programs.
These programs aim to equip technical experts, researchers, and entrepreneurs to build AI solutions tailored to Africa’s languages, contexts, and economic opportunities.
At the same time, JA Africa and the CyberSafe Foundation will focus on “AI Learners,” scaling up digital literacy and online safety training for young people.
Google stated, “These trusted social impact organizations have the trust and expertise to deliver real-world impact on the ground.”
The funding comes amid growing concern over the continent’s AI skills gap.
While enthusiasm for AI can reach 95% in countries such as Nigeria, more than half of businesses report that their biggest barrier to growth is finding people with the right AI skills.
Experts say initiatives like this are crucial for converting interest in AI into practical, scalable capacity.
This program builds on the newly launched AI Skilling Blueprint, commissioned from the Nextrade Group.
The Blueprint provides a detailed roadmap for governments and institutions to develop three key groups of talent: AI Learners, AI Implementers, and AI Innovators.
Google said the framework “proposes a core strategic principle: AI skilling must be adopted at the highest levels of government and coordinated across ministries.”
By combining local expertise with substantial investment, the initiative seeks to create a pipeline of skilled professionals who can contribute across sectors from healthcare and agriculture to business and public services.
Foundational skills will help everyday users safely and confidently engage with AI tools, while advanced programs will nurture innovators capable of developing solutions for Africa-specific challenges.
These organizations already have strong track records in STEM education, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship, enabling the programs to scale effectively and reach a wide audience.
Skilled innovators need reliable, high-quality data, particularly for public-sector applications such as health, food security, climate resilience, and economic planning.
To support this, Google.org and Google’s Data Commons initiative are providing US$2.25 million to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and PARIS21.
The investment will help create a Regional Data Commons, giving African institutions trustworthy datasets and analytical tools to inform strategic decision-making and support evidence-driven development.
Through this approach, Africa’s next generation of AI learners and innovators will be better equipped to turn enthusiasm into impact.
By investing in people first, Google.org and its local partners aim to ensure that AI adoption across the continent is inclusive, practical, and sustainable, empowering Africa to lead in developing its own AI solutions.
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