Maha Jouini is the Vice President of the Agence Francophone et Africaine de l’Intelligence Artificielle (AFRIA), where she advocates for the ethical use of data in Francophone Africa, focusing on countries such as Senegal, Tunisia, and Mauritania. She raises awareness about the African Union’s Data Policy Framework and highlights the impact of colonial legacies on data practices in Africa. Maha brings attention to the issue of biased narratives against Africans, particularly Muslim Africans, and leverages African philosophy and indigenous voices as tools to address and combat such biases.
Maha currently serves as a Digital Communication Officer at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and is a member of its AI Task Force, working to advance the African Union’s strategy for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies from Tianjin University of Education and Technology (China) and is presently pursuing further studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, specializing in institutional governance in Africa, particularly within the African Union Commission.
Inspired by the spirit of Ubuntu and the aspirations of Agenda 2063, Maha speaks passionately about the harmful impact of AI on the future of work and governance across the continent. She focuses on fostering regional integration and enhancing inclusive dialogue on tech policy across Africa’s five regions.
In 2023, Maha served as a country researcher for the Responsible AI Global Index, where she focused on promoting the ethical use of artificial intelligence in Senegal. Her role included advocating for enhanced digital capabilities in the country, empowering local communities to harness AI responsibly and effectively.
Maha has published numerous research articles and analyses in both Arabic and English, exploring the intersection of AI and economic development in Africa. She is a Fellow Researcher at the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) and served as the African Regional Coordinator for the 2023 Global Responsible AI Hackathon, launched by the Women in AI Ethics Initiative. Through her publications and speaking engagements, Maha emphasizes the transformative potential of technology for Africa’s economy, advocating for AI as a tool to promote inclusion, particularly for women and youth.
Her leadership extends to promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advocating for the free movement of people across Africa, particularly in North Africa. Maha also participated in the “Mazal” campaign, organized by the Arab Institute for Human Rights, aimed at eradicating all forms of harm and racism against Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. During this mission, she conducted interviews with NGOs working on Black migrants’ rights in Tunisia and advocated for the human rights of migrants who were victims of online violenc
During this mission, she conducted interviews with NGOs working on Black migrants’ rights in Tunisia and advocated for the human rights of migrants who were victims of online violence. Maha Jouini is a staunch advocate for tolerance and the values of living together in Tunisia and across North Africa. She has conducted training sessions and workshops aimed at facilitating the integration of North African youth into the African Union, working closely with the office of the first African Union Special Youth Envoy, Mrs. Aya Chebbi. Maha firmly believes that technology can serve as a powerful tool to overcome language barriers and amplify African voices in unity.
From 2015 to 2017, Maha became the first young woman from North Africa to join the African Union Youth Volunteer Program. During her tenure, she served as a Digital Communication Officer for the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa. In this role, she was responsible for translating African Union Commission (AUC) documents into Arabic and creating online content tailored to Arab audiences. She also collected data on child and women abuse in North Africa, acting as a vital bridge between civil society and the AUC headquarters. Her online publications in Arabic promoted Agenda 2063 and Pan-African values among Arab audiences. In 2018, Maghreb Voices recognized Maha’s achievements by naming her “Personality of the Year” following the success of her book Lover from Ifrikeya.
Later, in 2022, she was honored as one of the Top 20 Women Change Makers in MENA by UNESCO and The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship. This distinction underscores her commitment to advancing women’s digital rights, promoting economic inclusion, and leveraging artificial intelligence to drive development in North Africa. From 2011 to 2014, Maha served as a digital communication consultant for various NGOs across Tunisia and the MENA region, focusing on women’s, children’s, and minority rights. She played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the harmful impacts of religious extremism and patriarchal ideologies.
Working closely with Black North African activists, Maha led capacity-building training programs aimed at empowering marginalized communities in Tunisia and Libya, fostering inclusivity and resilience. Through her work, Maha continues to champion Technology as a catalyst for inclusive growth and sustainable development across Africa.
