Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation has signed a strategic partnership with French AI company Mistral to assess the country’s existing AI capabilities and develop an operational roadmap for future deployment.
The agreement will see the ministry and Mistral conduct a strategic study and audit covering the country’s AI ecosystem, data resources, infrastructure and potential use cases.
The work is intended to support the AI pillar of Côte d’Ivoire’s Digital Roadmap 2026-2028, which includes 40 structuring projects.
Audit will map AI players, data and infrastructure
The study will examine the organisations, capabilities and resources already available within Côte d’Ivoire’s AI ecosystem.
It will also assess existing data and infrastructure to determine whether they can support broader AI adoption.
A key objective is to identify practical areas where AI could deliver value for government, businesses and citizens.
The ministry said the findings should provide the basis for an operational roadmap outlining the conditions required to deploy AI solutions and develop high-impact pilot projects.
Public administration, health and agriculture among priorities
The study will focus on several priority sectors.
These include public administration, health, education, agriculture and services to the population.
The emphasis on sector-specific use cases suggests the government is looking beyond a general AI strategy toward applications tied to public service delivery and economic development.
However, the ministry has not yet disclosed which individual AI solutions or pilots are likely to be prioritised.
Artefact Côte d’Ivoire joins implementation effort
Mistral is working on the project with Artefact Côte d’Ivoire, the local arm of the Artefact group specialising in data and AI consulting.
Artefact is expected to contribute local market knowledge and technical expertise to the assessment.
This local participation could be important in evaluating the practical constraints around data access, institutional readiness, skills and infrastructure.
Roadmap linked to wider digital strategy
The partnership forms part of Côte d’Ivoire’s broader Digital Roadmap 2026-2028.
The AI component is one of several pillars within that programme, which includes 40 structuring projects designed to advance the country’s digital transformation.
By conducting an audit before moving into deployment, the government is attempting to establish a clearer baseline for where AI can be implemented effectively and where additional capability development may be required.
The audit is expected to be completed in time for the ministry’s IMPACT IA conference in Abidjan next week.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
