Digital innovation and
dialogue for better policy

in South Africa

We work for better policy outcomes through the innovative use of digitalisation and dialogue. This runs across three areas: building AI tools and skills for government, strengthening the evidence base for regulating digital public infrastructure and improving policy advice and dialogue at the centre of government. The work is carried out with The Presidency of South Africa, supported by funders such as the Gates Foundation and GIZ.

Latest Industry

NEWS

  • Update to our catalogue of AI public sector use cases – June 2026

    We have updated our database of AI tools in government. We use the catalogue to find examples of use cases Ramaphosa mentioned at the Google Cloud summit.

  • Get to know our team: Isabel Ray, Data Science and Policy Innovation Analyst

    Meet Isabel Ray, a Data Science and Policy Innovation Analyst with a unique journey from professional ballet to applied mathematics. Passionate about responsible AI, she works on practical tools for policymaking, with a focus on health and gender equity, while advocating for thoughtful and ethical technology use.

  • The risk of digital dependence

    The Lab is supporting the development of South Africa's digital public infrastructure data sovereignty strategy. Cuba and Russia serve as examples of what dependence on foreign digital payment systems may mean.

Our

PROJECTS

Building Africa’s first AI for policy platform

This project aims to enchance South Africa’s policy advice system by integrating AI and digital tools to improve coordination, monitoring and evaluation of policies, linked to the SDGs. It involves identifying policy gaps, supporting institutional adoption of digital solutions, and strengthening government readiness for digital transformation.

Using AI to identify policy barriers to investment

This project supports AI-driven digital transformation in South Africa’s public sector. It prototypes, catalogues and implements fit-for-purpose digital tools, assesses the state of digital transformation in the country, and provides evidence-based recommendations to advance government-wide digital initiatives. The project identifies and tracks priority digital transformation projects and collaborates with provincial, municipal and regional Centres of Government across South Africa and the SADC region to strengthen digital governance in the public sector.

Rethinking policymaking for frontier AI systems

This project examines how policymaking processes must evolve to address the unique challenges posed by advanced AI systems. We lead the AI and public policy working group within Meta’s Open Innovation AI Community, convening global experts to explore regulatory frameworks for frontier technologies. Key outputs include peer-reviewed articles on best practices, toolkits for policy design and actionable recommendations tailored to both South Africa and international contexts.

Supporting digital transformation through the G20

This project supports South Africa’s G20 presidency by advancing the priority of equitable, inclusive and just AI. We have planned dialogues and intend to develop knowledge products to tackle key issues related to AI in the G20. Drawing on global best practices, we also intend to identify strategies and frameworks to help countries adopt AI ethically. Deliverables also include reports, peer-reviewed research and guidelines to for MSMEs and researchers.

Identifying legislative and policy innovation required for digital public infrastructure

This project focuses on developing a centralised AI platform tailored to the needs of South Africa’s public sector, enabling secure and efficient deployment of AI tools for policymaking. We aim to create a unified platform that enhances privacy, data security and usability. The platform will integrate tools for automating policy briefs, summarising policy documents and analysing citizen-generated data, ensuring streamlined and consistent access to advanced AI capabilities.

Identifying and sharing global policy advice good practices

This project investigates the potential of open-source AI platforms to support responsible and impactful policymaking. By examining the scalability, security and ethical implications of open source systems, we aim to develop frameworks for their integration into public sector decision-making.

Developing and scaling AI training

Training and capacity building are central to our mission. This project develops and delivers programmes to equip public policy professionals with the skills to use AI responsibly and effectively in policymaking. Activities include training interventions on AI tools and governance. Key outputs, in addition to training interventions, include training manuals, research on training impacts and a curriculum designed and delivered with partners.

  • Building Africa’s first AI for policy platform

    This project aims to enchance South Africa’s policy advice system by integrating AI and digital tools to improve coordination, monitoring and evaluation of policies, linked to the SDGs. It involves identifying policy gaps, supporting institutional adoption of digital solutions, and strengthening government readiness for digital transformation.

  • Using AI to identify policy barriers to investment

    This project supports AI-driven digital transformation in South Africa’s public sector. It prototypes, catalogues and implements fit-for-purpose digital tools, assesses the state of digital transformation in the country, and provides evidence-based recommendations to advance government-wide digital initiatives. The project identifies and tracks priority digital transformation projects and collaborates with provincial, municipal and regional Centres of Government across South Africa and the SADC region to strengthen digital governance in the public sector.

  • Rethinking policymaking for frontier AI systems

    This project examines how policymaking processes must evolve to address the unique challenges posed by advanced AI systems. We lead the AI and public policy working group within Meta’s Open Innovation AI Community, convening global experts to explore regulatory frameworks for frontier technologies. Key outputs include peer-reviewed articles on best practices, toolkits for policy design and actionable recommendations tailored to both South Africa and international contexts.

  • Supporting digital transformation through the G20

    This project supports South Africa’s G20 presidency by advancing the priority of equitable, inclusive and just AI. We have planned dialogues and intend to develop knowledge products to tackle key issues related to AI in the G20. Drawing on global best practices, we also intend to identify strategies and frameworks to help countries adopt AI ethically. Deliverables also include reports, peer-reviewed research and guidelines to for MSMEs and researchers.

  • Identifying legislative and policy innovation required for digital public infrastructure

    This project focuses on developing a centralised AI platform tailored to the needs of South Africa’s public sector, enabling secure and efficient deployment of AI tools for policymaking. We aim to create a unified platform that enhances privacy, data security and usability. The platform will integrate tools for automating policy briefs, summarising policy documents and analysing citizen-generated data, ensuring streamlined and consistent access to advanced AI capabilities.

  • Identifying and sharing global policy advice good practices

    This project investigates the potential of open-source AI platforms to support responsible and impactful policymaking. By examining the scalability, security and ethical implications of open source systems, we aim to develop frameworks for their integration into public sector decision-making.

  • Developing and scaling AI training

    Training and capacity building are central to our mission. This project develops and delivers programmes to equip public policy professionals with the skills to use AI responsibly and effectively in policymaking. Activities include training interventions on AI tools and governance. Key outputs, in addition to training interventions, include training manuals, research on training impacts and a curriculum designed and delivered with partners.

Latest

PUBLICATIONS

  • A Sandbox Playbook: From design to implementation for Digital Public Infrastructure

  • Digital Sovereignty in the BRICS Countries

  • Identifying Barriers to Investment: Pilot Results and Policy Outlook

  • The evolution of the G20 digital agenda

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