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Design by Inclusion in AI Development: Uganda’s Cassava Farming Initiative

About the Case Study

This case study reveals that an AI tool for cassava disease detection, though technically sound, failed to meet Ugandan farmers’ actual needs, which centered on soil analysis and variety selection. A “design by inclusion” approach, involving diverse farmer groups, uncovered this misalignment and led to a framework for user-centered AI development, proving that effective technology must prioritize user-defined needs for sustainable and equitable outcomes.

An African AI Toolbox: Integrating Human Rights considerations along the AI lifecycle

The Toolbox applies a Human Rights-based AI Lifecycle Framework, integrating reflective questions and the Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) developed with the Alan Turing Institute.

It emphasizes participatory, multidisciplinary approaches and is rooted in feminist, decolonial, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles and incorporates lessons from emerging digital rights challenges, ensuring AI systems are designed with safety and dignity at their core.

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