Inclusive Africa Conference 2026 accelerates Africa's digital accessibility and AI innovation

Nairobi is hosting the 7th Inclusive Africa Conference (IAC 2026), where governments, innovators, development partners, and civil society are driving action on digital accessibility and AI inclusion.

Organized by inABLE in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the conference addresses a central challenge: ensuring that Africa’s 80 million persons with disabilities are included in the continent’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

Irene Mbari-Kirika, founder and executive director of inABLE, framed the discussions around urgent and inclusive innovation. “Are we building a digital economy that truly serves everyone, or are we leaving over 80 million Africans with disabilities behind?” she asked.

She highlighted the continent’s reliance on imported assistive technologies and called for stronger local solutions. “Africa must pair global innovation with local manufacturing to create jobs and grow the market here at home,” she said. She also emphasized early skills development, noting that “preparation that starts after graduation is already too late.”

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, William Kabogo, stressed that accessibility must be built into the foundation of digital systems. “Digital transformation and digital inclusion must advance together,” he said, adding that “a public service that a citizen with a disability cannot use is not yet a complete public service.”

Kabogo highlighted Kenya’s Digital Superhighway Programme, which has rolled out over 30,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure, and the Jitume Digital Hubs initiative, which has provided more than 17,700 devices across 270 hubs serving learners who are blind, deaf, or hard of hearing.

He also cited the economic cost of exclusion, noting World Bank estimates of a 3–7% GDP loss, while global spending power among persons with disabilities exceeds US$18 trillion.

The conference also marked the launch of Africa’s Harmonized Accessibility Standard for ICT Products and Services, aimed at driving systemic reforms across the continent. The framework is being developed with support from inABLE, GIZ, and the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

Irene Mbari-Kirika explained that the standard will embed accessibility into digital products and services across Africa, and noted that its development is expected to take approximately two years.

The Assistive Technology Innovation Village also showcased ten African startups developing solutions to address affordability, language diversity, and last-mile access challenges.

Partner organizations such as Microsoft, Google, Mastercard, Meta, Safaricom, and UNDP presented initiatives in AI-powered learning, accessible financial systems, and inclusive digital infrastructure. Across sessions, delegates agreed that accessibility must be embedded from the outset in AI, policy, and digital systems.

The IAC 2026 underscored a clear message: Africa’s digital transformation will only succeed if it is inclusive by design, ensuring that no citizen is left behind.