Tanzania's NM-AIST Joins Global AI Capacity Development Network

Tanzania's Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) joined the Global AI Capacity Development Network (AICDN) following the network's launch in Switzerland in July 2026, becoming one of the initiative's African research-institution members.

The AICDN is designed to connect universities and research institutions across regions to share AI training resources, research collaboration opportunities, and technical capacity-building support, with a particular focus on institutions in lower- and middle-income countries. NM-AIST's membership gives it access to the network's shared training curricula and research partnership opportunities.

### Strengthening East African AI research links

NM-AIST, based in Arusha, has positioned itself as one of East Africa's more research-intensive science and technology institutions, and its AICDN membership is intended to deepen its international research links specifically in AI. The move follows public remarks by Tanzanian Minister Angellah Kairuki earlier in the year calling for stronger international cooperation on AI governance, made at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July 2026.

Together, the NM-AIST network membership and the government's governance-focused diplomatic engagement reflect a two-track approach in Tanzania's 2026 AI activity: research capacity-building at the institutional level, paired with governance advocacy at the ministerial level.