Join the AI and African Evaluation Working Group Meet ‘n’ Mix Session on May 7!

Since the public launch of ChatGPT in 2022, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning have become increasingly powerful tools across nearly sector, including international development and global health. These new technologies have opened up both extraordinary opportunity and unprecedented risk.

Global discussions of our shared AI future have touched on its capacity to save lives, to increase efficiency and productivity, and to wholly transform how we live and engage in the world. These discussions have come most visibly from the West and the private sector, yet important insights are emerging from nonprofit and legal efforts to address privacy and other associated risks.

AI in Africa is diverse, empowered, and power aware

What many may be missing is the unprecedented work being done by, for, and with the technologists, scholars, evaluators, development practitioners, policymakers, researchers and activists on the African continent. Africa has taken the AI world by storm, from early policy efforts to investments in research, education, and infrastructure; from innovative new models to Made-in-Africa solutions and products; from practical but powerful applied tools, to foundational local language models and prescient critiques of where power and technology might take us. AI in Africa is a diverse, empowered and power aware, and frequently values-driven community of practice.

Join us for a lively discussion on AI in Africa

The MERL Tech Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP CoP), which hosts a range of AI-focused working groups, including Ethics and Governance, Social and Behavior Change, Humanitarian AI, and AI in Philanthropy, is pleased to announce the AI in Africa Working Group’s Meet n Mix session on Tuesday, May 7, from 14.30-16h GMT+2 / 08h30-10h ET.

For this initial AI in African Evaluation meet up, we invite in all of those working on or interested in AI or natural language processing by, in and for Africa. Practitioners, technologists, researchers, scientists, students and activists are welcome to engage with this growing network as we lay out our shared work and values for the year.

Alongside the other MERL Tech NLP-CoP Working Groups, we’ll be offering trainings, hands on workshops, presentations and discussions, networking and sector building, and tailored resources to understand, influence and build a shared AI future with Africa’s bright and vibrant future at its center.

In our May meeting, we’ll be connecting new and returning members to celebrate the value of our network, and then take time as a community to set out our updated vision, goals and priorities for the year.

We’re all new to this area, and we want to take the time to intentionally explore what topics are relevant to group members, and collectively curate a purpose and direction for the Working Group that serves the collective. This is a space for us, by us, to enable us to both learn and contribute our voices to the discourse on AI for Evaluation.

Working Group Co-Leads and Meet ‘n’ Mix Facilitators

• Beth Head is a doctoral candidate in Sociology at the University of Florida, where she studies measurement as a form of social and epistemic power, and uses large language models to explore the assumptions embedded in new AI technologies. For the past decade, Beth has worked as a MEL advisor and Learning Facilitator in the U.S. and East Africa. 
• Mutsa Chinyamakobvu is an M&E practitioner, statistician and a mentor with 11 years of experience. She is a Professors Without Borders Educator and a recipient of the MERL Centre Stipend. She is currently an Associate Director at Data Innovators,  Deputy Chair of the SAMEA Board, and Co-lead of the AI in African Evaluation Working Group with the NLP CoP. Through her work, Mutsa aims to push data boundaries for positive futures.

The May meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet others with shared interest, experience and excitement for AI in Africa and to help shape the direction and priorities of our community’s trainings, discussions, and work this year. We welcome curious beginners, early practitioners, as well as seasoned experts, technologists and researchers – come to connect and see what we can build together.

Register here to join. (Upon registration, you will receive a link for the call).

Join the NLP-CoP!

The NLP-CoP welcomes all Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) practitioners and data practitioners interested in using text analytics approaches for MERL in the development, humanitarian, peacebuilding, and related social sectors. All MERL practitioners are welcome, no prior knowledge of text analytics is needed. Specialist data scientists and NLP specialists are also welcome. Working Group meetings will cover both technical and non-technical aspects; e.g. ethical and inclusive use.

To join please fill in this form indicating your agreement and alignment with the NLP-CoP Charter and Code of Conduct.