The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and AICE Africa announced the launch of an AI Safety and Standards Center of Excellence in Eswatini on November 2, 2026. The new center aims to build local expertise, testing capabilities, and governance frameworks for artificial intelligence across the continent.
Building Local AI Governance
The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and AICE Africa announced the launch of an AI Safety and Standards Center of Excellence on November 2, 2026, in Mbabane. The partnership, formalized in September 2026, aims to develop African skills and standards expertise to support the safe and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across Africa.
ESWASA will provide institutional leadership, standards expertise and national coordination for the Center. AICE Africa will contribute program design, AI governance expertise, platform development, and skills and knowledge transfer.
Development Stages and Planned Laboratory
The Center’s development will follow four stages: internal transformation, practitioner development, industry services and regional cooperation. Central to ESWASA's internal transformation is the development of EswasaOne, an AI platform designed to connect standards information, certification and inspection workflows, and management oversight.
The Center’s longer-term roadmap includes a proposed AI Safety and Standards Research and Testing Laboratory to evaluate AI systems under local conditions. Additionally, the partners plan to convene an AI Safety and Standards Summit in Mbabane in July 2027.
Key facts and where they come from
- ESWASA and AICE Africa launched an AI Safety and Standards Center of Excellence in Eswatini on November 2, 2026.
The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and AICE Africa (www.AICEAfrica.com) today announced the launch of an AI Safety and Standards Center of Excellence in Eswatini.
- The partnership was formalized in September 2026.
The partnership, formalized in September 2026, offers a practical model for how national standards bodies can contribute to AI governance
- The partners plan to convene an AI Safety and Standards Summit in Mbabane in July 2027.
The partners plan to convene an AI Safety and Standards Summit in Mbabane in July 2027.
