Cameroon’s National Archives has partnered with the International Centre of Expertise on Artificial Intelligence (CEIMIA) and the Institute for Data Valorisation (IVADO) to leverage AI expertise.
The collaboration, announced on July 24, 2024, aims to enhance the preservation and accessibility of Cameroon’s documentary heritage. The partnership will focus on intelligent digitalization of archives, the development of ethical and responsible AI tools, and information governance strategies.
According to the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt, “Archives are not simply documents forgotten in the shadows of the past. They are evidence, benchmarks, levers of citizenship, governance, and development.” The Minister emphasized the importance of engaging archives with technology to enhance their value and relevance.
The CEIMIA delegation was led by Sophia FALLAHA, Director General of CEIMIA, and accompanied by Dr. Jean-François BRUNEAU, a technology transfer expert from IVADO. The Canadian High Commissioner was represented by Eric DIBEU, Economic Affairs Adviser.
The collaboration will provide Cameroon with expertise in AI-based public policies, capacity building and training, and potential support for innovation laboratories and public data observatories.
“We are building the bridges with the expertise we have in Canada, by making sure that we can co-design solutions that will be helpful for the ecosystem here. You already have expertise here in Cameroon but there are also some learnings that could be interesting for the Canadian ecosystems. Similarly the Canadian ecosystem can learn several things about the great practices here,” Sophia Fallaha said.
The partnership is expected to benefit both parties, with opportunities for knowledge sharing and mutual benefit.
The use of AI in archive management is a growing trend worldwide. Institutions such as the UK’s National Archives have successfully utilized AI in digital records selection, demonstrating the technology’s value in enhancing archival processes.
The partnership between Cameroon’s National Archives, CEIMIA, and IVADO is a great step towards harnessing the potential of AI in archive management.
The Minister recognized the delegation’s presence as a strong sign of the growing interest shown by the international community in the enhancement of documentary heritage and the application of emerging technologies in the service of collective memory.