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A data-driven approach
In 2022, I began informally exploring the perspectives of a few Congolese individuals on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The prevailing sentiments prompted me to launch a formal survey in January 2023. This online survey aimed to assess the awareness of the Congolese population—primarily locals—regarding 4IR, the driving force behind today’s digital advancements. Among many other questions, the survey asked, “Selon vous, quels types de technologies 4IR sont les plus utiles en RDC?” (In your opinion, which 4IR technologies are most useful in the DRC?). This question sought to gauge the public’s understanding of 4IR technologies and identify which ones, in their view, could have the most significant impact on the country’s development. The responses provided valuable insights into how different technologies were perceived, helping to shape future strategies for promoting digital literacy and integrating these technologies in a way that meets the specific needs of the Congolese population.
With 191 responses, the majority collected over a three-month period, the survey revealed insightful trends. The top selections were: Artificial Intelligence (83 mentions), Internet of Things (75 mentions), Other (72 mentions), Drones (38 mentions), and Blockchain & Virtual Reality (26 mentions each).
With 83 mentions, AI emerged as the most useful technology, suggesting a high level of awareness and recognition of AI’s potential to address local challenges such as automation, data analysis, and smart systems.
I've provided more insights from this survey on Tableau. Click this Link to explore the insights. These are the insights that directed the first steps of CET.
From Vision to Execution: Hosting CET’s First AI Workshop
With these insights in mind, I led the organization of CET's first AI-focused online workshop, taking charge of key aspects such as securing a skilled speaker, hiring a translator (which I funded) to accommodate our French-speaking audience, and developing social media content to promote the event. The two-day workshop featured James Goh, an experienced AI professional who has worked with organizations such as USAID, the World Bank, J-PAL, Dalberg, One Acre Fund, and IDInsight.
While my team —consisting of a co-founder overseeing operations and two program coordinators—provided support with tasks such as posting content and facilitating parts of the event, I took the lead in executing the vision. One of the program coordinators introduced the speaker and moderated the Q&A session.
James is also a founding member of AILYZE, an AI-powered program evaluation tool designed to support document analysis and interview transcription processing.
Day 1 of the workshop explored AI and its use in everyday life. Our speaker laid a strong foundation for anyone looking to embark on an in-depth learning journey in AI.
Day 2 of the workshop deepened our understanding of how AI works. We concluded the workshop with a demonstration of AILYZE.
The training sessions sought to introduce AI in a way that was contextualized for the DRC, aiming to further reinforce the mission of making AI relevant to local needs.
Despite having nearly 100 registrants, the participation rate was relatively low. However, those who did participate were highly engaged and eager to learn. At the end of the session, they were awarded a certificate of participation, reflecting their commitment to gaining valuable knowledge.
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