Announcing the Winners of the Meta Bursaries

The African Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence is pleased to announce the awardees of the Meta Bursaries opportunity!

‍Meta has kindly provided the African Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (African Observatory) with funding to support the attendance of emerging AI researchers at the upcoming Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) Conference which is to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 12 - 14 June. The AI4D Conference is supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The bursary funding will serve as a means to assist in building professional profiles and includes travel for up to 8 awardees to attend the conference and to present their research at a session that will be attended by the AI4D community and leading researchers from the African continent. During the conference, the recipients of the bursary will participate in a panel discussion with other awardees where they will present a short paper based on their proposed area of research.

The African Observatory received an overwhelming response to the Meta Bursaries call with over sixty applicants. The winners of the award were selected for their commitment to working on AI ethics, human rights and policy/governance in African research. Beyond the AfricAI conference, the African Observatory will provide the awardees with mentorship as well as support for the publication of their work.

Applications for the Meta Bursaries opportunity were reviewed by an eight - person committee of esteemed African AI experts which comprised of:

1. Dr Samah Elsayed:

Dr. Samah Elsayed is Associate professor in Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, she is also the  Principal investigator (PI) of the Smart and Future Cities Laboratory for Sustainable Urban Solutions (SFCL) which is funded from science and technology fund (STDF), and the Cairo charter; a framework for environmental justice-driven Urban AI in Cairo & beyond, which is funded by Facebook Research.

2. Dr Melissa Omino:

Dr. Melissa Omino, is an intellectual property (IP) expert with a research focus on the development and negotiation of IP provisions in international trade agreements by and with Global South countries. A cum laude graduate with practical legal experience both in academia and practice, Dr. Omino holds a Doctorate in Law (focusing on Intellectual Property and Trade Law). Her range of expertise also includes the legal frameworks within the sphere of Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection and Digital Rights.

She also focuses her energies in mentoring and nurturing researchers as part of her role as Acting Director at the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology (CIPIT) where she leads projects in IP and data protection. Dr. Omino is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She is also a co-host of the Friendly Troll Podcast where she disseminates research to a wider audience in the Global South in accessible language.

3. Dr Ololade Shyllon:

Dr Ololade Shyllon is the Head of Privacy Policy for Africa, the Middle East and Turkey (AMET) at Meta, where her work entails shaping the design and governance of AI in accordance with ethics and human rights.

4. Dr Jerry Kponyo:

Prof. Jerry Kponyo is the Dean of the Quality Assurance and Planning Office of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is currently the Project Lead of the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP). He is Co-Founder of the Responsible AI Network (RAIN) Africa. Prof. Jerry Kponyo is currently the coordinator of the West Africa Sustainable Engineering Network for Development (WASEND). Prof Kponyo is also the PI and Scientific Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab. He is also PI for the Partner-Afrika project.

5. Kristophina Shilongo:

Kiito Shilongo is a Senior Tech Policy Fellow at Mozilla Foundation where her project aims to explore policy recommendations which support or provide alternative interventions to those outlined in the African Union Data Policy Framework implementation plan and where possible to national data policies or regulation on the continent.

Her research is contributing to the sustainable adoption of data-driven technologies in Africa. She is curious about drawing lessons from collective/participatory governance frameworks in various sectors to apply to the development and deployment of AI technologies. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences focusing on Data and Society as well as a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

6. Dr Rachel Adams:

Dr Rachel Adams is Programme Director at Research ICT Africa and the Project Director of the African Observatory on Responsible AI. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Global Index on Responsible AI. Rachel sits on numerous boards and expert panels including the UNESCO Expert Group on the Implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on AI in Ethics and the expert advisory board of an Ada Lovelace project on the future of AI and genomics. She is currently the Editor in Chief of the South African Journal on Human Rights.

The eight awardees had undergone a rigorous evaluation by the committee, it is anticipated that the research they produce will impact the development of AI ethics and AI policy in the African continent. The research interests of each of these awardees vary and provide significant insight into AI ethics, AI policy/governance through an African lens.

‍The awardees are:

Irene Nandutu

Irene Nandutu is a PhD candidate at Rhodes University in South Africa. Her research focuses on the application of machine learning to road ecology, particularly in addressing the challenge of wildlife-vehicle collisions through various mitigation measures. As an emerging researcher in deep learning and machine learning, Irene is dedicated to improving her skills in trustworthy AI by seeking out educational opportunities such as courses, conferences and workshops on ethical AI practices.

Ultimately, Irene aims to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions with high social and environmental impact through responsible AI, deep learning, and machine learning research.

‍“Winning this award not only recognises the hard work and dedication I have put into my field of expertise, but it also presents a challenge for me to further improve my skills in Responsible AI through the mentorship opportunity I have been granted.”

Hanani Hlomani

Hanani is a young and ambitious legal consultant and researcher pursuing a doctorate in commercial law at the University of Cape Town. He brings innovative solutions to complex policy and legal issues through a fresh and dynamic perspective. He is a senior researcher at the iNtaka center for law and technology and a research fellow at Research ICT Africa, where he explores the intricate relationship between law and emerging technologies in Africa. He has been instrumental in producing insightful and influential publications for organisations such as the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

Hanani also lends his expertise as an associate at Africonsult firm where he provides exceptional legal consulting services, advising clients spanning from individuals to multinational corporations on matters pertaining to intellectual property, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data governance, and regulatory compliance. He looks forward to making further contributions towards addressing the challenges that come with adopting emerging technologies, ensuring a brighter future for Africa and beyond.

“I am truly honoured and grateful to receive the bursary. It is a profound validation of my commitment to scrutinising the effects of AI adoption in Africa and an extraordinary opportunity to network with like minded experts and contribute to the advancement of AI in Africa in a responsible manner.”

Bridget Chipungu

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Bridget Chipungu is a PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria with an interest in the interaction of technology and society. Her research focuses on ethics and philosophy of emerging technologies, in particular AI and IoT (AIoT). Bridget is an experienced Telecom Engineer and Project Manager with over 11 years’ experience working in the ICT industry. Bridget has vast experience in the telecommunications sector and has worked for a global Telecom company for over 7 years. She holds a Masters in Telecommunications from Anglia Ruskin University and a BSc (Hon) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe. Bridget is the founder of WISE ( Women in Science and Engineering) an organisation which seeks to support women in STEM and also sponsors female engineering students at the University of Zimbabwe.

“Winning this award has given me a boost as a researcher in the field of responsible AI. It will widen my network and help make connections with other leading researchers in the field.”

Halifet Ayemohammed

“Winning this award is a huge step in building myself in AI Ethics and policy, and I can’t wait to make the best of it and contribute my part as an emerging African researcher.”

Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Halifet Ayemohammed Yusuf holds LLB in Law from Wollo University, Ethiopia. She is a Lecturer at Wollo University School of Law, Global Peace Ambassador, YALI East Africa, and Qatar Foundation Alumni. Halifet recently completed her MA in Applied Islamic Ethics from Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar. Her thesis mainly explored the deportation of Ethiopian migrants from the GCC from an Islamic Ethical and Human Rights perspective. She will soon complete her LLM in Human Rights Law from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. She is researching the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its contribution to sustainable development in the Nile basin from a human rights- based approach. As an Ethiopian young female law lecturer, Halifet is also a passionate human rights researcher who aims to continue her PhD in migration governance, research AI application in the migration control context, and its implications for human rights in Africa.

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Denish Azamuke

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Denish is a self-driven and ambitious Ugandan, currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Computer Science at Makerere University. His research focuses on developing privacy-preserving synthetic data generation techniques for mobile money transactions to detect financial fraud using Agent-based modelling techniques and Artificial Intelligence.

Denish's passion for the intersection of technology and finance stems from a desire to make a positive impact in the financial industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. He recognises the challenges that the industry faces, such as limited access to financial services and rampant fraud, and believes that AI can play a key role in addressing these issues.

Through his research, Denish hopes to develop innovative solutions that can enhance the security and efficiency of financial transactions in the region. He is dedicated to using his skills and knowledge to become a leader in the field of AI for finance and to help bring about positive change in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Winning a conference bursary to present my research to a large audience gives me a sense of validation of my work, and I am very excited about this opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other experts in the field.”

Diana Nyakundi

Diana Nyakundi is an AI Fellow at Research ICT Africa (RIA) and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Ms Nyakundi holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, an Executive Certificate in Law, Policy, and Technology from the IE University in Spain, and an AI Policy Analyst Certification from the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy. At RIA, she works on a number of AI projects; Global Index on Responsible AI which aims to measure the responsible use of AI in over 120 countries, African Observatory on Responsible AI which seeks to promote African voices, experiences, and value systems in the global debate around responsible AI, and research on the effects of AI on Children in the African Continent.

“Winning this award is a validation that indeed the African voice matters in the AI conversation.”

Raymond Onuoha

Raymond Onuoha is a Technology Policy Fellow at the Lagos Business School, Nigeria, where his research and teaching focuses on the institutional and policy challenges in the evolution of the digital economy and technology innovation in developing countries, with a focus on Africa. He also works as a Research Consultant with regional ICT policy think tanks – Research ICT Africa (RIA), South Africa, IT4Change (India), and The Portulans Institute (Washington DC, USA) - conducting multidisciplinary research on digital governance and regulation and the

facilitation of evidence-base to inform policymaking for improved access, use and application of digital technologies for Africa’s socio-economic development. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the IDRC Award (2018), which aims to build emerging leaders in communications policy in the Global South and is currently rounding up his Doctoral Studies at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance), University of Cape Town, South Africa where his thesis interrogates the regulation of complex adaptive systems - optimising competition and consumer welfare outcomes in developing countries’ digital markets.

“Participating in the AfricAI Conference presents an invaluable opportunity to present my proposed research, ‘Ethics by Design: AI governance imperatives within the African Context’ to the AI4D community and leading researchers from around Africa. I wish to leverage the opportunity to seek out potential collaborators on the study in the prospect of journal publication and receive mentorship from senior experts within the field of study.”

Mabona Machaba

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Mabona Machaba, is currently studying a PhD in Sociology at the University of Johannesburg. Her research area focuses on space and power, race, class and gender, social movements, township dynamics and realities and 4IR and data ethics. She is also a non - resident fellow at the Digital Africa Research Unit, Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg. She has also worked as a research assistant at the Centre for Data Ethics, University of Johannesburg. The research spaces she has worked in provided her with insights on the arguments surrounding the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitalisation in the African context. Finally, she is a social scientist who comes from the township, and she believes in addressing challenges that affect the continent’s most marginalised people. Her presentation will be on understanding smart townships in the 4IR context, their interconnected opportunities and repercussions.

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‍“I am really thankful for the award, with it, I will be able to broaden my horizon and travel outside of South Africa to share my knowledge with other researchers while also gaining expertise in how to better assist townships in transitioning evenly into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

The African Observatory heartily congratulates each of these awardees, and looks forward to working together and supporting them in the development of their research.