Responsible AI for transformative policymaking in South Africa

Illustration depicting the use of data science tools for policymaking in South Africa

We advance responsible AI to transform policymaking and drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. By working with The Presidency of South Africa and with the support of the Gates Foundation and GIZ we do so through research, capacity building, AI tool development and practical knowledge products.

AI has the potential to transform policymaking – in Africa and beyond.

That’s why the Policy Innovation Lab at Stellenbosch University’s School for Data Science and Computational Thinking has built an AI platform for African policymakers.

We filmed this video in the mountains around Stellenbosch to show how AI systems and their impacts are ultimately concrete and tangible. With the beta launch of the platform, selected South African policy entities now have secure access to a suite of tools that simplify how policy is developed, analysed and communicated. The platform allows users to:

  • Summarise complex policy documents in seconds
  • Compare policies across countries or timeframes
  • Track media trends and narrative shifts
  • Generate evidence-based policy briefs instantly

Latest

NEWS

  • Policy Innovation Lab and AI Safety South Africa co-host AI safety and cooperative AI workshop

    On 27 March, the Policy Innovation Lab hosted a joint workshop with AI Safety South Africa, convening researchers to present new work on mechanistic interpretability, cooperative AI and AI governance. The event highlighted locally new approaches to cutting-edge topics and strengthened South Africa’s presence in global AI safety research.

  • Policy Innovation Lab joins global network for international collaboration on emerging technologies

    Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab has joined the Global Network of Internet & Society Centers, becoming one of only three African members and the only South African university in this network. This milestone strengthens its role in global technology policy, advancing collaborative research on AI, emerging technologies and their societal impact.

  • Policy Innovation Lab joins SDGi partners in Pretoria to advance evidence-informed policymaking

    The Policy Innovation Lab participated in the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative II partners' workshop held in Pretoria. The workshop brought together government, academia and civil society partners to advance evidence-informed policymaking and strengthen the use of digital tools and responsible AI in government.

The

GOALKEEPERS

Public engagement initiatives collect and share inspirational stories of policy innovation at all levels of society. We do this primarily through hosting the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers South Africa network.

The

Sustainable Development Goals

Multistakeholder dialogues identify opportunities for policy innovation that align with South Africa’s SDG priorities and address pressing societal challenges.

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