The Government AI Readiness Index is an annual report produced by Oxford Insights that seeks to answer the question: how ready is a given government to implement AI in the delivery of public services to their citizens?. Recognized by UNESCO and the G20, it is a trusted tool for policymakers worldwide. The 2024 index examines 40 key indicators across three areas; Government, Technology Sector, and Data & Infrastructure in order to track progress, identify challenges, and uncover opportunities. As governments navigate economic uncertainty and climate change, AI has the potential to enhance decision-making. By providing clear insights, the index helps policymakers harness AI to better serve their citizens. As AI continues to shape the future, initiatives like IndabaX play a crucial role in promoting research and collaboration across Africa.

The IndabaX programme is a growing initiative that brings together African countries to strengthen the machine learning and AI community. Launched in 2018, it has expanded each year, providing a platform for learning, research, and collaboration beyond the annual Deep Learning Indaba conference. In 2024, the programme supported 47 countries, including Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, and many more, with events that were scheduled across the continent. These gatherings, organized locally, range from small workshops to large conferences with hundreds of attendees, encouraging knowledge sharing and innovation in AI. The initiative continues to grow, aiming to reach every African country in the near future. The table below shows the countries that participated in IndabaX 2024 and their history of hosting the IndabaX event.

IndabaX CountryIndabaX 2018IndabaX 2019IndabaX 2020IndabaX 2021 IndabaX 2022IndabaX 2023IndabaX 2024
Algeria✅✅✅✅✅✅
Angola✅
Benin✅✅✅✅
Botswana✅✅
Burkina Faso✅✅✅
Burundi✅✅✅
Cameroon✅✅✅✅✅✅
Carpe Verde✅
Central African Republic✅
Chad✅
Comoros✅
Côte d’Ivoire✅✅✅✅
DR Congo✅✅✅✅
Egypt✅✅✅
Equatorial Guinea✅
Eswatini✅✅✅✅✅
Ethiopia✅✅✅✅✅✅
Gambia✅✅✅✅
Ghana✅✅✅✅✅✅
Guinea✅✅
Guinea-Bissau✅
Kenya✅✅✅✅✅✅
Lesotho✅✅✅✅
Liberia✅
Madagascar✅✅✅✅
Malawi✅✅✅✅✅
Mali✅✅✅✅
Mauritania✅
Mauritius✅✅✅✅
Morocco✅✅✅✅

Table 1: IndabaX Countries and Event Participation History (2018–2024)

To understand how these insights translate to African AI development, we examine the AI preparedness of countries within the IndabaX community. We use the data provided by Oxford insights to identify which nations are best positioned to implement AI in governance and public services. As IndabaX continues to strengthen AI research and collaboration across Africa, understanding the AI readiness of its member countries provides valuable insights into regional strengths, gaps, and opportunities for growth.

Findings

The map below illustrates the global readiness of countries to adopt AI. Countries least prepared for AI adoption are represented by the color on the far left of the scale, while readiness increases as the color shifts toward the right. The countries with the color on the far right of the scale are the most prepared to implement AI.

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Based on the 2024 AI Readiness Index, several IndabaX countries stand out as frontrunners in AI adoption. Egypt emerges as the most AI-ready country within the IndabaX community, ranking 65th globally with a preparedness score of 55.63. It is followed by Mauritius at 69th place with a score of 53.94% and South Africa at 72nd with 52.91%. The following sections break down AI readiness into the three key pillars: government support, technology sector development, and data and infrastructure readiness.

Government Support for AI: Rwanda leads in government support (71.44), followed by Egypt (68.98) and Mauritius (65.31), demonstrating strong AI policy efforts and investment. In contrast, Sudan (13.32), the Central African Republic (12.07), and Guinea-Bissau (14.65) show weak governmental backing.

Technology Sector Development: Egypt (42.13), South Africa (39.15), and Tunisia (41.07) have the strongest technology sectors, promoting AI innovation. Meanwhile, Chad (18.22), DR Congo (15.99), and Angola (15.87) struggle due to underdeveloped tech ecosystems.

Data and Infrastructure Readiness: South Africa (65.28), Mauritius (63.81), and Tunisia (61.35) are best positioned in terms of data availability and infrastructure, essential for AI adoption. However, Burundi (27.84), Chad (28.82), and the Central African Republic (28.77) face significant gaps.

The charts below categorize IndabaX countries into three groups: the top 10 most AI-prepared, mid-level countries, and those that are least prepared. Addressing disparities in government support, technology, and infrastructure will be key to advancing AI readiness across the region.

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Chart 1: The top 10 most prepared countries

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Chart 2: The mid-level countries in terms of AI preparedness

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Chart 3: The least prepared countries

The 2024 Government AI Readiness Index highlights the varying levels of AI preparedness among IndabaX countries. Egypt, Mauritius, and South Africa lead the rankings, demonstrating strong governmental support, a growing technology sector, and developed data infrastructure. Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia follow closely, signaling steady progress in AI adoption. However, many nations, particularly those ranking lower on the index, still face challenges in policy development, digital infrastructure, and AI investment. Despite this, the IndabaX community is working towards the goal of Africans not only being observers and receivers of the ongoing advances in AI, but active shapers and owners of these technological advances. With Continued collaboration, investment, and better policies, even the least-prepared countries can improve their AI readiness in the future. Below is an example chart that shows other factors that were used to measure AI readiness of a country.

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