Responding to a national disaster: Policy Playbook leverages AI to fast-track the fight against GBV in South Africa
Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab led the development of the FemAI Policy Playbook, launched as South Africa confronts gender-based violence as a newly declared national disaster. The Playbook sets out how AI can improve the implementation of South Africa's extensive policy framework aimed at ending gender-based violence.
Strengthening the LMU-SU partnership through collaboration on interdisciplinarity
The recent LMU–SU workshop on interdisciplinarity laid the foundation for translation the institutions' formal partnership into substantive collaboration. Scholars from both institutions compared approaches to interdisciplinary teaching and the role of AI, highlighting clear alignment and identifying opportunities for joint programme development and future research cooperation.
Evidence-based recommendations for the G20’s Anti-Corruption Working Group
The Policy Innovation Lab is offering evidence-based recommendations to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group on strengthening institutional integrity, enhancing asset recovery through AI, promoting inclusive policymaking, and protecting whistleblowers. The report highlights best practices from Brazil, South Africa, India and Kenya to promote transparency, accountability and collaboration in global anti-corruption efforts.
Creating a legislative catalogue for digital ID in South Africa
The Policy Innovation Lab is supporting South Africa’s digital transformation by developing an AI-assisted legislative catalogue for the country’s envisioned digital ID system. This tool maps the complex legal framework governing digital ID, helping policymakers identify gaps and conflicts to ensure the system’s development is coherent, compliant and future-ready.
Synthesising G20 messages on AI, DPI and digital transformation
Over the past four years, the G20 has developed an increasingly coherent digital governance framework through policy innovation in digital transformation, Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence. A synthesis by the Policy Innovation Lab, TUM Think Tank and Harvard’s Global Network analyses over 200 G20 documents, with final reports to be released in late 2025.
Google and policymakers join SU’s Policy Innovation Lab to explore the future of AI in policymaking
Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab hosted a workshop with Google and the Presidency of South Africa to explore how AI can transform policymaking. The workshop focused on practical, human-centred innovation to support better decisions, more effective policymaking, and ultimately significant improvements to citizens' lives.
Webinar examines gender and artificial intelligence in South Africa
The FemAI webinar, co-hosted by the Policy Innovation Lab, brought together voices from law, policy and technology to explore how AI impacts women and why women must shape it. The session called for more inclusive, transparent and accountable AI across Africa.
Improving the research-policy interface through AAU training in Morocco
Dr Itai Makone joined policy-focused training in Morocco, hosted by the AAU, to strengthen how research informs public decision-making. The session underscored the value of clear communication, strategic engagement and policy briefs as tools for academic impact.
Collaborating across continents on AI policy at the Technical University of Munich Think Tank in Germany
During a recent series of engagements with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany, the Policy Innovation Lab presented at a workshop hosted by the TUM Think Tank and engaged in mutual learning on policy with and for AI.
Improving South Africa’s policy advice system: Lessons from Brazil, India and Kenya
The Policy Innovation Lab hosted a Roundtable in Pretoria where our experts presented digital tools and best practices for policy advisory systems in Brazil, India, Kenya, and South Africa. Attendees included government, academia, and civil society.
SU’s Policy Innovation Lab supports high-level roundtable on improving SA’s public service
Supported by SU's Policy Innovation Lab, a recent presidential roundtable addressed high turnover in public service leadership. Through preparatory webinars and participation in the main event, the Lab contributed to discussions on key reforms to professionalise senior roles, aiming for a stable, effective administration shielded from political interference.
Policy Innovation Lab beta-tests platform for LLM-based tools
The Policy Innovation Lab recently got South Africa policymakers together to test our new platform which hosts a number of LLM-based tools for supporting policymaking.
OECD dialogue leads to briefing note on optimising SA’s policy advice system
What will it take to strengthen South Africa’s policy advice system at the centre of government? This write-up of our Digital Dialogue with the OECD highlights the challenges and proposals for practical reforms that emanated from the event.
Reflecting on digitalisation in the public sector in Mexico City
Prof. Willem Fourie recently participated in the MGG/PRODIGEES Final Conference in Mexico City, which brought together global partners to reflect on digitalisation and sustainability. The event aimed to explore how digital technologies can support equitable and sustainable development, particular in the global south.
AI in government: Insights from the Lab’s Digital Dialogue
AI is transforming government, but without clear policies, it risks deepening inequality and eroding trust. Experts from Microsoft, Google, Meta and the Global Centre for AI Governance at the Policy Innovation Lab’s recent Digital Dialogue outlined how South Africa can harness AI’s benefits, namely through regulation, skills investment and innovation, while safeguarding transparency, security and inclusion.
Responsible AI for transformative policymaking in South Africa
In 2025, the Policy Innovation is focussing on responsible AI to transform policymaking in South Africa. Our work will focus on ethical AI governance and developing AI tools to optimise policy design and implementation. From enhancing public sector capacity to coordinating digital transformation, to prototyping AI-driven policy tools, our work bridges research, teaching, and partnerships with key stakeholders. Explore how we’re shaping AI’s role in policymaking.
Briefing Note released: South Africa and the G20 in a fragmented world
The Policy Innovation Lab partnered with South Africa’s government to host a dialogue with global experts, providing reflections on priorities of relevance for the country’s historic G20 presidency. The briefing note, 'South Africa and the G20 in a Fragmented World', highlights actionable priorities for addressing global challenges and advancing Africa’s agenda.
Policy Innovation Lab strengthens policy costing skills with new training
The Policy Innovation Lab recently facilitated an online Policy Costing Refresher Course, equipping policy makers with up-to-date knowledge and expertise to make more informed, evidence-based decisions that align with global best practices.
Dr Gray Manicom represents Lab at Meta LLM community meetup
In August, Meta hosted the Llama Community Meetup at their headquarters in Johannesburg, following the release of Meta’s latest open-source large language model, Llama 3.1. Dr Gray Manicom represented the Policy Innovation Lab at the meeting, and discusses some of the highlights.
Prof Willem Fourie appointed as inaugural Chair of Policy Innovation
Stellenbosch University has appointed Prof Willem Fourie as the inaugural Chair of Policy Innovation at the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking. The Chair will create a platform for high-impact and societally-relevant research on the application and governance of data science tools to enhance policymaking in South Africa.
