Women MPs in Tanzania have called for the government to accelerate the development and implementation of inclusive and gender-responsive Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies across strategic sectors, placing women leaders at the center of AI legislation and governance. The lawmakers urged political institutions, including Parliament and local government authorities, to recognize and empower women leaders in shaping the future of AI frameworks. They stressed the importance of women’s life experiences, grassroots connections, and decision-making roles in ensuring that AI systems are inclusive, ethical, and reflective of community needs.
The call was made during a capacity-building seminar for women leaders on AI technology held in Dodoma over the weekend. The training is part of the FemAI Leaders for Africa initiative, a continent-wide program aimed at strengthening AI governance by empowering women in politics to take the lead in AI development and address disparities in political representation across Africa. The current lack of policy or legislation to guide the use and oversight of AI in the country is highlighted.
AI is becoming increasingly vital in sectors such as education, agriculture, and environmental conservation. However, there is no policy or legal framework to define how AI should be operated or supervised. The goal is to establish mechanisms that protect those most vulnerable to harmful applications, warning that women are often disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of AI.
A context-specific national AI policy is essential, prioritizing ethical considerations, highlighting sectoral priorities, and identifying national projects. Tanzania is among a few African countries developing AI policy frameworks in education but still needs to assess its readiness compared to other Sub-Saharan nations and set strategic national goals.
The MPs called for collaboration among public and private sectors, development partners, media, and academia through the Female AI Leaders Lab. They advocated for training, research, and widespread dissemination of the upcoming National AI Guidelines, particularly in education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, climate change, public service delivery, and security. They proposed training for journalists on the ethical use of AI in political coverage and the development of short, practical courses tailored to MPs and local leaders under the theme “AI for Governance and Policy.” The lawmakers also recommended the creation of a national platform to support women leaders in localising the National AI Policy 2025, including constituency-level awareness campaigns and the establishment of “AI Community Champions” to drive innovation from the grassroots.
The lawmakers underscored the need for robust regulations, policies, and legal frameworks to ensure data privacy and protection for all AI users in the country. The call was made during a specialized training session held over the weekend in Dodoma, aimed at equipping lawmakers with knowledge on the opportunities and risks posed by AI. The session brought together MPs from various key parliamentary committees, including Infrastructure, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, Education and HIV/AIDS, and Governance, Constitution and Legal Affairs.