As part of the Geneva Peace Week (GPW) Meets initiative, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), Inclusive Peace, and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), organised a thematic panel discussion on Opportunities & Challenges of New Technologies, Digitalization & AI that took place on 08 April 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The discussion convened young peacebuilders, policymakers, tech innovators, and various international stakeholders. It highlighted the role of African youth not merely as digital natives but as digital leaders. The event underscored that young people are not passive beneficiaries of peace efforts, but co-creators and drivers of meaningful change.
The panel explored the opportunities and challenges of using AI tools in conflict prevention and resolution, with an emphasis on contextual relevance, ethical considerations, and inclusive design. Ms Bethel Gebeyehu Mekonnen, a panelist from the UN Association for Ethiopia, highlighted the significant skill gap in AI literacy across the continent and emphasised that misinterpretation of data often stems from AI’s lack of cultural sensitivity.
Youth participants argued that AI must be understood as a tool, not a solution in itself, capable of enabling, but not replacing, human-led peace processes. Mr Philip Poppelreuter from Inclusive Peace highlighted the use of Polis, an AI tool used to foster youth dialogue in peace processes. In one project, the tool enabled 30,000 young people to identify shared priorities and divergent views through structured online conversations, showing the potential of AI to enhance participatory dialogue and collective problem-solving.
The discussion also examined the African Union’s AI Strategy, endorsed in June 2024. Mr Taye Abdulkadir from the African Union presented how the strategy can better support youth-led peacebuilding initiatives, including facilitating inclusive dialogue and mediation efforts that reflect diverse youth perspectives.
The Panel discussion offered a platform for sharing best practices and insights towards building a more inclusive peacebuilding strategy for the continent.
