AI for Industries and Sectors Town Hall Series
The Bridge between AI Conversations & AI Action
Introduction
As Artificial Intelligence rapidly reshapes global economies and societies, its adoption in Africa remains uneven, fragmented, and often misunderstood. From agriculture to health to education, finance to governance, the transformative potential of AI extends far beyond technology, it is redefining how industries compete, how governments deliver public value, and how citizens experience development.
To deepen this understanding and drive evidence-based action, Rise Networks will be hosting the AI for Industries and Sectors Town Hall Series; a continent-wide knowledge exchange platform where experts, practitioners, policymakers, and innovators converge to explore how AI can address Africa’s most pressing challenges and unlock new frontiers of growth.
Objectives
The Townhall Series is designed to:
Simplify the role of AI across key industries and sectors in Africa’s socio-economic landscape.
Bridge the knowledge gap between policymakers, private sector leaders, academia, and civil society on practical AI applications.
Generate actionable insights that inform strategy, regulation and ethical innovation.
Foster collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders to drive inclusive, responsible, and locally relevant AI adoption.
Influence public discourse on the role of AI in achieving sustainable development, digital inclusion, and job creation.
Format and Structure
Each Town Hall session will focus on one industry or sector, exploring both the opportunities and policy implications of AI adoption. The discussions will feature:
Keynote Presentations from sector experts and innovators.
Fireside Chats with policymakers and thought leaders.
Interactive Audience Engagement and Q&A.
Thematic Breakout Conversations to identify challenges and propose solutions.
After each Townhall session, Rise Networks will publish a detailed Report and Policy Brief, highlighting practical recommendations, best practices and policy pathways for stakeholders in that field.
Focus Areas
AI in Healthcare
Precision medicine, public health data, and patient-centered innovation.
AI in Media & Communications
Fact- checking, creative industries, and behavioral influence.
AI in Energy and Environment
Sustainability, resource optimization, and Climate Intelligence
Expected Participants
Policymakers and Government institution
Industry Leaders and Corporate Executives
Academia and Research Institutions
Development Agencies and Multilateral Partners
Startups, Innovators, and Tech Hubs
Civil Society and Advocacy Organizations
Students and Young Professionals in Emerging Tech
Outcomes and Deliverables
Each Town Hall will produce:
A Post-Event Report capturing discussions, insights, and commitments.
A Policy Brief with clear, actionable recommendations.
A Knowledge Repository of AI use cases across Africa’s industries and sectors.
A Network of Practice connecting participants for ongoing collaboration.
Justification
AI’s future in Africa must not be imported, it must be invented. The AI for Industries and Sectors Town Hall Series will ensure that Africa’s AI conversation is not confined to labs and codebases but extended to boardrooms, classrooms, farms, hospitals and parliaments.
Through dialogue, collaboration and knowledge sharing, Rise Networks seeks to advance AI for Development (AI4D) as a tool for equitable prosperity, building the frameworks that will define how technology serves people, not replaces them.
Contact
Organizations, professionals and partners interested in participating or co-hosting a Town Hall can reach out via info@risenetworks.org.
“I’ve long believed that AI won’t just enhance the way we live but transform it fundamentally. AI is placing tools of unprecedented power, flexibility and even personalisation into everyone’s hands, requiring little more than natural language to operate. They’ll assist us in many parts of our lives, taking on the role of superpowered collaborators.”
- Silvio Savarese, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist, Salesforce AI Research
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