Global AI Education Initiative by UNESCO: Amplifying Innovative Public Sector Advancements in 31 Countries
In an era of rapid digital transformation, governments worldwide struggle to modernize their services while balancing human rights, transparency, and inclusivity. This challenge is particularly acute when it comes to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for public good, as many governments lack the digital competencies, infrastructure, and regulatory cohesion needed for a seamless transition. To bridge this gap, UNESCO has embarked on a significant initiative: the Global AI Training for the Public Sector.
Completed in February 2025, this six-week international course has empowered more than 30 government officials from around the world. The program provides a multidisciplinary curriculum, helping public officials understand the technical, ethical, and strategic dimensions of AI.
The course is divided into five key modules. These range from an introduction to AI in the public sector and AI fundamentals to public service design with AI, AI governance, and hands-on project practice. Each module equips participants with the tools necessary to design innovative services tailored to their unique national contexts.
World-renowned experts share their knowledge during the program. These include Dr. Miriam Stankovich discussing the geopolitical dynamics of AI, Dr. Ilaria Mariani on human-centered service design approaches, Dr. Helen Titilola Olojede on institutional ethics in decision-making, and Soizic Pénicaud on governance frameworks and impact assessment methods.
Emphasizing gender inclusion, the training draws participants from ministries, parliament, and regulatory agencies worldwide, with 55% of participants being women. African countries are particularly well-represented, accounting for 45% of all participants. This geographical diversity is crucial for UNESCO's mission of inclusive capacity-building, aligning closely with the African Union's Continental AI Strategy and UNESCO's Global Priority Africa policy.
The course has had tangible outcomes, with participants gaining actionable knowledge and tailored strategies to initiate change within their respective institutions. Armed with new tools, frameworks, and confidence, alumni are expected to champion projects that leverage AI to streamline workflows, design citizen-centric digital platforms, implement responsible data policies, and develop legal frameworks for ethical AI deployment.
This initiative builds upon the success of the AI4Gov Master Programme, originally funded by the European Union and hosted by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Politecnico di Milano. UNESCO's Global AI Training, supported through the EU's Global Gateway Initiative, expands this approach with a broader and more inclusive global mandate.
Unesco's training is just one part of its broader strategy for AI in governance. The Programme on AI for the Public Sector, launched in 2021, supports governments globally in adopting AI in a manner that is transparent, efficient, rights-based, and inclusive. Future initiatives include a Global MOOC on digital transformation and AI, a repository of AI tools for the public sector, and country-level and regional trainings in 2025.
UNESCO's Global AI Training offers hope that, armed with the right education, civil servants can become champions of AI for public good. By integrating AI into governance structures responsibly, governments can enhance administrative efficiency, promote transparency, expand civic engagement, and ensure equitable access to services. Most importantly, UNESCO's model prioritizes human dignity and social inclusion, ensuring that AI becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-and-cloud-computing are being integrated into the public sector through UNESCO's Global AI Training for the Public Sector, which equips government officials with the tools necessary to design innovative services utilizing AI. The course, completed in February 2025, is divided into five key modules, including AI governance, AI fundamentals, and public service design with AI.
The program helps public officials understand the technical, ethical, and strategic dimensions of AI, and emphasizes gender inclusion, with 55% of participants being women and African countries accounting for 45% of all participants. This initiative follows the success of the AI4Gov Master Programme and is supported by the EU's Global Gateway Initiative.
By completing this training, government officials are expected to champion projects that leverage AI to improve workflows, design digital platforms tailored to citizens, implement responsible data policies, and develop legal frameworks for ethical AI deployment, all while promoting transparency, expanding civic engagement, and ensuring equitable access to services.
