AI in African Evaluation Workstream/Learning Group
This group focuses on conversations and practical learning about AI and NLP for MERL in African contexts and “Made in Africa” AI and NLP tools. It creates space for connection and cross-learning with other NLP / AI and Evaluation groups and networks in and outside of Africa.
Our AI+African MERL Group focuses on conversations and practical learning about AI and NLP for MERL in African contexts and “Made in Africa” AI and NLP tools. It creates space for connection and cross-learning with other NLP/AI and Evaluation groups and networks in and outside Africa.
Meet the lead
This learning group is led by Vari Matimba. As a creative movement builder, Vari has led and coordinated communities of practice in East and West Africa on data governance, AI and digital safety. She brings those experiences to the AI+Africa Lead for the NLP-CoP role, where she will focus on creating space, structure and momentum for working group members to collaborate, learn together and connect with each other (and with other networks working on AI development and governance in Africa).
Varaidzo Faith Magodo-Matimba (she/her) is a pan-African feminist lawyer, decolonial funding advocate, and curator of the inaugural Afrofeminist Data Museum. She holds an Executive Postgraduate Diploma in Development Policies and Practices from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Her work focuses on human rights program design at the intersection of feminist tech policy, data governance, and digital inclusion in Africa. She has supported movement building, strategy, governance, compliance, and resource mobilization across West, Southern, and Eastern Africa. Vari is MTI’s AI in Africa lead.
Read now: Made In Africa Artificial Intelligence Approaches In MERL
In October 2025, The MERL Tech Initiative published “Made In Africa Artificial Intelligence Approaches In Monitoring, Evaluation, Research And Learning: A Practitioner Perspective And Landscape Study”, authored by core collaborator and Africa + AI Working Group Lead, Varaidzo Faith Magodo-Matimba. It is available here.
Become a member!
Membership is free! To become a member of MERL Tech CoP, fill in this form indicating your agreement and alignment with the CoP Charter and Code of Conduct.