The Data Revolution: Why AI and Data Upskilling for the Global Majority Matters
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By Dr. Ronda Železný-Green
Data shapes our world, influencing everything from job opportunities to civic engagement. Yet, the Global Majority – the diverse communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East – remains largely excluded from the data revolution. This is not just a digital divide; it’s a systemic issue that reinforces existing inequalities. To build a truly inclusive future, we must prioritize AI and data upskilling for the Global Majority.
The data literacy gap is staggering. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), approximately 94% of youth in sub-Saharan Africa lack basic digital skills, compared to 66% in Latin America and 25% in high-income countries. Additionally, a World Bank report indicates that sub-Saharan Africa's digital skills penetration is about half the global average, with only 4% of the labor force using LinkedIn, compared to higher percentages in regions like South Africa (Madden & Kanos, 2020). This isn't just a statistic; it's a reflection of missed opportunities, stifled innovation, and a perpetuation of systemic disadvantages. Millions are being left behind, unable to participate fully in a world increasingly defined by data.
Why AI and Data Upskilling is a Game Changer
What makes AI and data upskilling such a powerful force? Here's a look at four essential factors:
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1. Economic Empowerment and Job Creation
The digital economy is no longer a luxury; it's the foundation of modern commerce. From agriculture to finance, industries rely on data-driven insights to boost efficiency and drive innovation. Without data literacy, the Global Majority risks being further marginalized and locked out of emerging job markets and economic opportunities.
Imagine the possibilities: in Kenya, mobile money platforms like M-Pesa generate vast amounts of transactional data that could revolutionize financial inclusion. When M-Pesa was launched in 2007, financial inclusion—describing the percentage of the population’s access to formal financial services—was significantly lower than in developed countries. Just 26.7% of the population had access to formal financial services in 2006. By 2019, this figure had surged to 82.9%, while financial exclusion fell from 41.3% to just 11% over the same period.
This transformation underscores the power of digital financial tools in closing economic gaps. Data-skilled professionals could leverage this wealth of information to develop tailored financial products, expanding access to banking for underserved communities and fueling economic growth from within.
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2. Fostering Technological Inclusion and Ethical AI
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our world, but its development is often skewed, reflecting the biases of its creators. When AI systems are trained on datasets that lack diversity, they perpetuate and amplify existing inequalities (Buolamwini & Gebru, 2018). In their study, Buolamwini and Gebru (2018) found that commercial gender classification systems misclassified darker-skinned females at rates as high as 34.7%, while the maximum error rate for lighter-skinned males was only 0.8%. This stark disparity underscores the urgent need for more inclusive AI training data and equitable technology development.
The voices and experiences of the Global Majority are often absent from the data that shapes these powerful technologies. By upskilling individuals in data science, we can challenge these biases and ensure that AI is developed ethically and responsibly, serving all communities. Initiatives like the Lacuna Fund, which funds the creation of machine learning datasets in African languages, are vital steps toward building a more inclusive and representative AI landscape (Dollisso, 2024).
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3. Digital Sovereignty and Self-Determination
For too long, control over data infrastructure has been concentrated in the hands of a few powerful global corporations. This dependence on external expertise limits the ability of nations in the Global Majority to control their own digital destinies. Developing internal data capabilities is crucial for achieving digital sovereignty.
India's Aadhaar program, a biometric-based digital identity system, has significantly transformed the nation's data governance landscape. By providing a universal identification number to over a billion citizens, Aadhaar aims to eliminate redundancies, reduce corruption, and ensure that benefits reach the intended recipients. This initiative demonstrates the potential of local data governance and how nations can take ownership of their digital infrastructure (Rao & Nair, 2019).
However, realizing this potential requires investment in training professionals in cybersecurity, data governance, and ethical AI deployment. Without such expertise, even ambitious programs like Aadhaar can face challenges in data security, privacy, and accessibility, limiting their effectiveness in fostering true digital self-determination.
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4. Civic Engagement and Transparency
Data literacy is a powerful tool for civic engagement. It empowers citizens to hold their governments accountable, demand transparency, and advocate for better public services. Open data initiatives, like Nigeria’s BudgIT (SDSN TReNDS, 2018), which promotes budget transparency, demonstrate how communities can leverage data to expose corruption and drive systemic change.
In 2011, civic startup BudgIT was established to address the inaccessibility of Nigeria's federal budget, aiming to make budgetary data more accessible and understandable through digital technologies. Their 2017 Budget Review engaged 25,000 people and reached close to 2.5 million Nigerians via online and offline channels, leading to the exposure of frivolous budgetary items and "fake" projects. This illustrates the transformative power of data literacy in civic engagement—when citizens can access and interpret financial information, they can challenge inefficiencies, demand better governance, and drive systemic reform.
About the author
Dr. Ronda Železný-Green
Dr. Železný-Green leads datocracy with a vision, purpose, and unwavering commitment to achieve equity and justice. A digital changemaker, Ronda designs transformative social learning systems that empower Black people, women, individuals with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities to thrive in the data, tech and education sectors.
With two decades of professional experience spanning five continents and the public, private, and civil society spheres, Ronda is a force for change. A Black and Indigenous woman excelling with ADHD, her work embodies datocracy’s values, with career hallmarks including:
About datocracy
Unlocking the Power of Data for the Global Majority
datocracy is an initiative designed to empower the Global Majority, ensuring they actively shape AI and data technologies rather than merely consuming them. Unlike conventional upskilling programs that overlook local contexts, datocracy integrates industry-leading AI and data skills with the realities of NGOs, governments, and MSMEs in low- and middle-income contexts. The goal is to complement existing expertise, making AI and data skills an asset rather than a career shift.
We believe that AI and data upskilling for the Global Majority is not just about acquiring technical skills; it's about empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and building a more just and equitable world.
Join datocracy today and be part of a movement that is democratizing data, challenging inequalities, and shaping a future where everyone has a stake in the data revolution. 🚀