The OECD.AI Policy Navigator

Ethiopia’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy addresses the need to guide the country’s early‑stage adoption and development of artificial intelligence in a coordinated and responsible manner. The policy identifies both opportunities and gaps, including limited digital and data infrastructure, shortages of skilled human resources, weak data governance, and the absence of comprehensive legal and ethical frameworks. It positions AI as a strategic tool to support national development priorities, improve productivity, and contribute to economic, social and administrative transformation in line with national development goals.

The policy is structured around several core policy axes. These include human capital development, AI‑enabling infrastructure, data management, research and innovation, support and incentives, institutional coordination, and international cooperation. Priority actions focus on expanding AI education and training, strengthening lifelong learning, developing leadership and professional skills, and building research capacity. The policy also prioritises the development of digital and computational infrastructure, including data centres and shared computing resources, alongside systems for fair, secure and high‑quality data collection, sharing and use.

To support innovation and adoption, the policy promotes incentives for startups, private‑sector participation, public‑private partnerships, and technology transfer. It identifies key application areas such as agriculture, education, health, public services, and the digital economy, where AI can improve efficiency, service delivery, and decision‑making. The policy also recognises the importance of collaboration among government institutions, academia, research organisations, the private sector, the Ethiopian diaspora, and international partners to strengthen national capacity and avoid duplication of efforts.

Governance, ethics and oversight are central elements of the policy. It emphasises fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, data protection, cybersecurity, and respect for human rights, cultural values and social norms in the development and use of AI systems. The policy establishes mechanisms for implementation through coordinated institutional roles and provides for ongoing monitoring and evaluation, including regular review and assessment of progress, to ensure responsible, adaptive and sustainable AI development across the country.