Artificial Intelligence Policy and Implementation Plan (Draft, Version 0.1)

This is an aspirational, non-binding draft policy document, not legislation. It was prepared by Lesotho's Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI) and published on the Government of Lesotho portal as 'Draft: Artificial Intelligence Policy Implementation Plan, Version 0.1' (create date 21 January 2025, last updated 17 February 2025). The dates recorded here reflect publication of the draft, not legislative enactment. In January 2025 the government convened a three-day validation workshop covering broadband and shared infrastructure, data management and AI, of which this document is the AI component. The policy sets a national framework for the responsible development, deployment and use of AI, with the stated vision of improving quality of life through economic development, more efficient public services and innovation. It identifies priority areas spanning governance and regulation, capacity building, digital infrastructure, sectoral AI integration, and ethical and human-rights safeguards, and targets integration of AI across healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing to drive growth. On governance, the document proposes a three-tier structure comprising an AI policymaker, an independent AI regulator, and a Data and AI Committee functioning as a multi-stakeholder advisory platform; because the independent regulator is proposed rather than established, no regulator is linked. Implementation is to be tracked through a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework setting out indicators, targets and timelines across the 2025-2030 period. As a draft policy with an implementation plan, the document signals intended follow-up including institutional set-up, sector strategies and, potentially, future regulation, but it does not itself create binding obligations. It should be read as a statement of policy direction pending finalisation and adoption.

1. 1Non-binding draft AI policy and implementation plan (Version 0.1) published by MICSTI for validation, not enacted law
2. 2Vision of improving quality of life through economic development, public-service efficiency and innovation
3. 3Priority areas: governance and regulation, capacity building, digital infrastructure, sectoral AI integration, and ethical and human-rights safeguards
4. 4Targets AI integration across healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing
5. 5Proposes a three-tier governance model: an AI policymaker, an independent AI regulator, and a multi-stakeholder Data and AI Committee
6. 6Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with indicators, targets and timelines for 2025-2030