In the years since the first Data Science Africa summer school and workshop in 2015, DSA has grown and achieved several milestones, including events in eight African countries - Kenya (2015, 2018, 2024), Uganda (2016, 2020), Tanzania (2017, 2022), Nigeria (2018), Ethiopia (2019), Ghana (2019), South Africa (2021), and Rwanda (2023) - offering visiting fellowships to young researchers, contributing to affiliated academic institutions, supporting the establishment of local chapters of DSA across Africa, and providing grant support for early career and junior researchers.

The Data Science Africa Visiting Fellowship presented exciting opportunities for members of the DSA community to explore and deepen their academic and professional interests through research visits to DSA partner academic institutions. This fellowship provided individuals with the opportunity to carry out independent research, build professional links, and develop their interests in data science and artificial intelligence research and policy.

The Data Science Africa Visiting Fellowship presented exciting opportunities for members of the DSA community to explore and deepen their academic and professional interests through research visits to DSA partner academic institutions. This fellowship provided individuals with the opportunity to carry out independent research, build professional links, and develop their interests in data science and artificial intelligence research and policy.

The Sunbird AI - DSAIL Visiting Fellowship is an innovative, one-year joint fellowship program designed to strengthen collaboration between Sunbird AI in Uganda and the Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAIL) at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya. This initiative underscores the growing need for locally relevant AI-driven technologies tailored to Africa's unique challenges and opportunities.

For the third consecutive year, Data Science Africa (DSA) has successfully delivered capacity-strengthening workshops as part of its continued partnership with the Meridian Institute. This collaboration focuses on enhancing the capabilities of Lacuna Fund grantees working in climate and health data science, equipping them with essential skills to advance their projects effectively.

Data Science Africa (DSA) is committed to advancing regional engagement and collaboration within national data science ecosystems. A key milestone in this effort was the successful launch of the DSA Uganda Chapter in 2022, marking the first pilot initiative aimed at enhancing peer support and knowledge exchange among data science practitioners.

Data Science Africa (DSA) is proud to support the advancement of artificial intelligence research at Busitema University, Uganda. Through our collaboration with the Busitema Artificial Intelligence & Interdisciplinary Research Group (BUAIIR), we are fostering innovative AI-driven solutions in agriculture, climate change, health, and surveillance systems.

At Kabarak University, Data Science Africa (DSA) is strengthening cutting-edge research in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) through a USD 10,000 financial grant. Established in 2023, the Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) is at the forefront of pioneering research, with its flagship Federated Explainable AI Research Program leading advancements in machine learning for blood pressure prediction using smartwatch data—critical for epidemiological modeling.

At Data Science Africa (DSA), we are committed to leveraging data-driven innovations to address real-world challenges. In partnership with the Maseno Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence (MCA2I) at Maseno University, we are proud to support the Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) Production project.

In 2024, Data Science Africa (DSA) continued its mission of strengthening data science, machine learning, and AI capacity across Africa through targeted training, research funding, industry collaborations, and community engagement. With a growing network of universities, research institutions, and industry partners, DSA has established itself as a key enabler of data-driven solutions to Africa’s unique challenges. This year saw major milestones in capacity building, research grant awards, strategic partnerships, and financial sustainability, further cementing DSA’s role as a leader in Africa’s data science ecosystem. 

Strategic Partnership for Data Science Africa