The Role of Open Science and Science Diplomacy in AI Advancement

Kigali, Rwanda – 31st March, 2026 –The Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), and the Public Library of Science (PLOS) hosted a high-level plenary session on “The Role of Open Science and Science Diplomacy in Global and Regional AI Advancement” on Day 2 of the  4th EAC Regional STI Conference – AI4EAC 2026.

Joy Owango, Executive Director of TCC Africa making the keynote presentation

The plenary session was moderated by Nicole Mulaku, Program Officer at the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), opened with a keynote by Joy Owango, Executive Director of TCC Africa, who emphasized that Africa must move from being a consumer of AI technologies to an active contributor. She emphasized that Africa must transition from being a consumer of AI technologies to an active contributor in shaping AI systems and governance frameworks. She highlighted the importance of open research infrastructure, collaborative frameworks, and regional partnerships as foundational elements for inclusive AI development.

She further underscored TCC Africa’s ongoing efforts to strengthen open research ecosystems through initiatives such as the Africa PID Alliance and HospitiumRIS, which enhance research visibility, interoperability, and equitable access to knowledge.

Panel Discussion (L–R): Dr. Henry Waruhiu (ESAMI), Joy Owango (TCC Africa), Nicole Mulaku (TCC Africa), and On Screen Christian Kohl (PLOS) during the plenary session at AI4EAC 2026 in Kigali.

The plenary featured a keynote presentation by Joy Owango, Executive Director of TCC Africa

followed by a panel discussion with :

Dr. Henry Waruhiu – Director Research and Management Consultancy. Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI). He highlighted the importance of structured science diplomacy frameworks that ensure meaningful participation of emerging economies in global AI governance. He emphasized the need for stronger alignment between scientific expertise, policy-making, and diplomacy, alongside targeted capacity-building to support equitable participation in AI ecosystems.

Mr.Christian Kohl -Director of Technology and Engineering. Public Library of Science (PLOS). He emphasized the role of publishers and knowledge platforms in enabling equitable access to scientific information. He highlighted how collaborative and open research models can strengthen knowledge exchange across institutions and regions while ensuring that local expertise is recognized and integrated into global AI conversations.

Ms. Joy Owango – Executive Director. Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa). In her panel contribution, Joy Owango focused on how open access, open data, and collaborative research models can democratize participation in AI development. She highlighted TCC Africa’s work in building open research infrastructure through the Africa PID Alliance and Hospitium, stressing that such systems are essential for improving research visibility, interoperability, and inclusive participation in AI ecosystems.

Session recording: https://doi.org/10.21428/359fb1d2.f7e230fc

The discussion emphasized the importance of collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and policy alignment in fostering innovation ecosystems that support AI advancement at both regional and global levels.

The session concluded with a strong call for increased regional cooperation, investment in open infrastructure, and the adoption of Open Science practices to ensure AI development is inclusive, ethical, and aligned with Africa’s priorities.