National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025 - 2027 (Republic of Zambia)
zm-ai-2025 · Guidance
This is an adopted but non-binding national strategy, not legislation. It is led by Zambia's Ministry of Technology and Science and was published and launched in early 2025 (the official Ministry document is dated February 2025); the recorded dates reflect publication, not legislative enactment. Note a citation discrepancy: the Ministry's published document is titled for the period 2025-2027, while some trackers (including parts of OECD.AI) refer to a 2024-2026 period, the 2025-2027 title from the Ministry's own PDF is used here and the discrepancy is flagged for reviewer attention. The strategy sets a national framework to use AI for economic growth, improved public services and inclusive development. It prioritises human capital development, digital infrastructure, data ecosystems, research and innovation, sectoral AI adoption, and international collaboration, and emphasises equitable distribution of AI benefits and ethical deployment. On governance, it establishes oversight through a National AI Council supported by Technical Working Groups, intended to coordinate implementation and provide ethical oversight; as these are strategy-created coordination bodies rather than an existing statutory regulator, no regulator is linked. The strategy positions AI as a driver across priority sectors and frames a vibrant national AI ecosystem built through collaboration between local and international entities. Its development was supported by partners including Finland and the Tony Blair Institute. As a strategy document it anticipates follow-up including institutional set-up, sectoral programmes and possible future regulation or guidelines, but it does not itself impose binding legal obligations. It complements Zambia's existing Data Protection Act, 2021 and related digital-economy initiatives such as the government regulatory sandbox, though it is presented as policy direction rather than enforceable law.
- Adopted non-binding national AI strategy led by the Ministry of Technology and Science, published/launched early 2025
- Strategic priorities: human capital development, digital infrastructure, data ecosystems, research and innovation, sectoral AI adoption, and international collaboration
- Emphasis on equitable distribution of AI benefits and ethical deployment
- Governance and ethical oversight through a National AI Council supported by Technical Working Groups
- Positions AI as a driver across public services and priority economic sectors for inclusive development
- Developed with international partner support (including Finland and the Tony Blair Institute); complements the Data Protection Act, 2021
- Title-period discrepancy noted: Ministry document cites 2025-2027 while some trackers cite 2024-2026