The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and AICE Africa have announced the establishment of an AI Safety and Standards Center of Excellence in Eswatini. This new center aims to enhance African expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) safety and standards, focusing on the responsible implementation of AI technologies across the continent.
With an increasing number of governments worldwide addressing challenges in AI governance, the launch of the center aligns with broader efforts to create technical standards and assessment capabilities. The European Union has set a deadline of December 2, 2027, for high-risk AI systems to comply with new regulatory requirements, highlighting the urgency of developing relevant infrastructure.
The Center seeks to empower local capacities by cultivating the necessary skills and methods to assess AI systems’ safety and fairness in alignment with African context. This initiative comes in response to the pressing need for expertise to evaluate whether AI systems are appropriate for local conditions.
Center’s Role and Structure
Formalized in September 2026, the partnership will enable ESWASA to take the lead in institutional coordination, while AICE Africa will share its knowledge in AI governance, design programs, and facilitate the transfer of skills. “As AI becomes part of how businesses and public services operate, standards bodies must develop the capability to assess it,” said Ncamiso Mhlanga, Executive Director of ESWASA.
The development of the Center will occur in four stages: internal transformation, practitioner development, industry services, and regional cooperation. As its capabilities grow, the Center intends to offer certification services, supported by validated methods and competent personnel.
A key component of this initiative is the creation of EswasaOne, an AI platform aimed at streamlining standards information and certification processes. This platform will feature a natural-language interface to facilitate access to institutional procedures and information about standards.
Education is central to the Center’s mission, with a focus on training standards officers, auditors, and technical staff in AI governance and assessment. The Center plans to collaborate with universities to link its initiatives with higher education and practical experience, paving the way for a new generation of professionals skilled in AI safety and assurance.
In its long-term vision, the Center aims to set up a dedicated AI Safety and Standards Research and Testing Laboratory. This facility would allow local institutions to evaluate AI systems in the context of African languages, data, and socio-economic factors, ensuring that assessments meet regional needs.
To facilitate this, the Center will establish partnerships to produce assessment methodologies and an African AI Standards Baseline Report to help guide regulatory practices and procurement decisions. This effort is seen as essential for building confidence in AI systems and supporting responsible AI use across the continent.
The partners are planning an AI Safety and Standards Summit in Mbabane in July 2027. Details regarding dates and participation will be announced in due course. Collaboration with standards bodies, educational institutions, and industry players will be encouraged to foster innovation and development within the sector.
