Google is putting two point two five million dollars into improving public data systems across Africa. The goal is to make this information easy to access and ready for use with artificial intelligence.
A big part of this plan involves Google’s Data Commons, which is a huge public database that gathers information from many sources into one place. Google is working with the UN Economic Commission for Africa to create a version of this database built specifically for the African continent.
Google.org is giving seven hundred fifty thousand dollars to help UNECA build AI-powered tools. These tools will combine data from different countries and focus on important issues like food supplies, trade, and economic growth.
The project also aims to set shared rules for how data should be used and shared in a safe and ethical way. Another goal is to train National Statistical Offices so they can manage data more effectively and support this new AI-ready system.
Google is also giving one point five million dollars to PARIS21. This group will train data teams in Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal to use AI, write better guidelines for data, and improve open data systems so they can grow in the future.
Google said public data plays a huge role in tackling big problems like hunger, climate issues, and economic challenges. With Africa’s young and fast-growing population, a strong data system could help the continent jump ahead in AI just like it skipped landlines and moved straight to mobile phones many years ago.