This week, global attention turned to Nairobi, Kenya, as the Africa Forward Summit convened leaders shaping the continent’s future and World Vision contributed to a critical conversation on safeguarding children in an AI‑driven world.
World Vision co-convened a high‑level event on Building Safer Digital Spaces for Children in Africa, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Kenya Rachael Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The dialogue brought together 5 Africa First Ladies (Kenya, Madagascar, Guinea, Tanzania and Eswatini), former President of Liberia, H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leaders in the technology sector, children, senior African leaders, policymakers, technology sector stakeholders, and children to examine how innovation, governance, and partnership must evolve together.
As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates, the summit underscored a strategic imperative: technology must advance in ways that intentionally protect and empower children. Digital spaces can unlock unprecedented opportunity, but only if child‑centred safeguards, responsible design, and inclusive policies keep pace.
Speaking at the event Pauline Okumu National Director World Vision Rwanda used this platform to advocate for a coordinated approach that:
🔹 Strengthen child‑centred digital and AI governance
🔹 Promote responsible technology design
🔹 Invest in digital literacy for families and communities
🔹 Meaningfully engage children and young people as co‑creators and peer educators
🔹 Strengthen enforcement and sustained investment in online child safety
At World Vision, we remain committed to working alongside governments, partners, the private sector, and children themselves to ensure digital spaces are safe, inclusive, and empowering for every child.
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