UNESCO Commits to Supporting Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy Implementation

09 September 2025

By Khulisani Siziba

By Khulisani Siziba | 09 September 2025

UNESCO has pledged full support to Zimbabwe as the country rolls out its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, with a focus on global best practices, capacity building, and improving digital literacy.

Speaking during the Third Consultation on the National AI Strategy at NUST, UNESCO representative Mr. Al Min Yusaph praised Zimbabwe’s inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach in developing the plan.

He said the UN system will provide sector-specific expertise, with agencies such as WHO supporting health, UNICEF focusing on children, and UNESCO taking the lead on education, communication, and ethics.

“When it comes to children’s issues and AI with UNICEF, when it comes to education, communication, ethics, there is UNESCO” said Mr Yusaph.

Mr. Yusaph stressed the need to build AI knowledge from senior government officials to ordinary citizens, noting that rural communities, in particular, need digital and media literacy skills to navigate AI-generated content.

” Your grandmother in the village needs to know what is artificial intelligence and the implications of artificial intelligence. You know the challenges that we face at the moment.

For example, if you go to YouTube, how many citizens can distinguish between an AI-generated video and an average video? You know, they have become so good, it’s very difficult to distinguish them,” he said.

To support this, UNESCO is partnering with ZBC to develop a National Media and Information Literacy Policy.

Mr. Yusaph added that the AI strategy must be people-centered, ensuring that no Zimbabwean is left behind in the digital age.