From Policy to Practice: African AI Strategies and the Role of Computing Education in Human Capital Development "(Work in Progress)".

In 2024, the African Union (AU) issued a continental AI strategy, recognizing AI’s transformative potential. Several African countries, drawing on this framework, have developed national strategies to guide AI adoption across sectors. This study examines these strategies in 15 African countries, focusing on their priority sectors and the role of computing education in building AI capacity. We assess how current curricula in computing education supports the enabling of national AI workforce goals. Our findings show that while digital literacy is widespread, relatively few countries are transitioning to a complete computing curricula, which forms the foundation for AI development. The study contributes to the ongoing domestic and international attempts to contextually define relevant AI concepts that should, and could, be integrated into African education systems.