• Burkina Faso promotes AI using local languages to increase inclusion.

• The initiative aims to train young technicians and expand digital access.

• The project includes UNDP support and emphasizes ethical AI use.

Burkina Faso is turning to local languages to make artificial intelligence (AI) more inclusive. In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Digital Transition organized a consultation meeting on July 4 to promote AI use in native tongues.

The government wants to break language barriers that often exclude millions of citizens from digital progress. By embedding local languages into AI tools, authorities aim to increase access, empower youth, and stimulate job creation in the tech sector.

Eloi Kouadio IV, UNDP's deputy resident representative in Burkina Faso, welcomed the initiative. He said, “This initiative values artificial intelligence while anticipating its risks. It incorporates regulatory and ethical dimensions, with a focus on strengthening technicians’ skills for responsible AI. Digitizing local languages is crucial to making this technology accessible to most people.”

The effort comes at a critical time. According to a 2022 report by the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), 72.4% of Burkina Faso’s 16 million people live in rural areas. Integrating local languages into AI tools opens real possibilities for improving education and access to public services.

Training young people in responsible AI use is central to this strategy. The government sees this as a pathway to building a skilled digital workforce, positioning Burkina Faso as a future regional leader in inclusive tech.

However, the plan’s success depends on several key factors. Authorities must train trainers, enforce regulations, and gain strong local support. Burkina Faso also looks to public-private partnerships to scale the impact.

Other African nations offer promising models. In Kenya, Simba AI has developed a multilingual chatbot that translates English into Kikuyu, Meru, and Kalenjin. This tool improves access to AI for rural populations while preserving indigenous languages and enabling youth-led innovation.

In Rwanda, the Mbaza app helped spread health information during the COVID-19 pandemic through a chatbot in Kinyarwanda. The app also collects language data to better tailor AI services to local needs.

Next steps for Burkina Faso include rolling out AI tools in schools and strengthening collaborations with tech companies. If successful, the country could lead the way in building ethical, inclusive AI systems.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou (Intern) 

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum