The 5th Africa Associations Summit (AAS5) was a milestone event, far surpassing expectations and establishing new benchmarks in engagement and impact for everyone involved. The success of this year’s summit was made possible through the invaluable support of our partners, to whom we extend our gratitude. Their support ensured that AAS5 was a resounding success, strengthening networks across Africa and beyond.
The event hosted at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center under the leadership of the Arusha International Conference Center. It attracted delegates in record numbers from Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. Cameroon, United States, Canada, Singapore, and Belgium were also represented. All the engagement, contributions, and passion for association work made this Summit memorable and impactful.
In the summit session on AI innovation, a keynote delivered by Veemal Gungadin, the transformative impact of AI on associations was highlighted. Gungadin, from the event tech company Gevme, shared insights on the accelerated adoption of AI, particularly generative AI, in various functions within organizations. He cited a McKinsey report showing a significant increase in AI adoption from 22% in 2017 to 72% in companies today. Generative AI, like the technology behind ChatGPT, is driving this growth, with many users leveraging it without their superiors’ knowledge.
Gungadin demonstrated how AI can empower individuals to perform tasks traditionally requiring specialized skills, such as software development, using tools like Clothe and ChatGPT to generate code from simple English instructions. He also touched on the use of AI in customer support, exemplified by a digital person created by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information dissemination.
Additionally, the session explored AI’s role in enhancing student learning, event attendee experiences, and sustainable event planning. Tools like Perplexity and Spark were discussed for their capabilities in speeding up research and analyzing survey data, respectively. Gungadin also emphasized the importance of adapting to AI advancements within organizations by aligning with the ‘why’, demonstrating the ‘how’, advocating experimentation, promoting success and failure stories, and training and empowering staff.
The session concluded with interactive discussions, where participants shared their personal and organizational uses of AI and envisioned applications inspired by the session. The importance of embracing AI to leapfrog in various sectors, including association management and public service, was a key takeaway, highlighting AI’s potential to streamline processes and enhance productivity and decision-making.
During the closing session of the Africa Associations Summit (AAS5), participants reflected on the event’s impact and discussed the importance of adaptability and embracing AI to avoid becoming obsolete, akin to Nokia and Kodak. The session included proposals for future reflection on the summit’s discussions, the significance of adaptability highlighted by Darwin’s theory, and the role of PCOs in amplifying impact. A practical example of AI’s benefits was shared through children’s book illustrations. Commitment to apply learned knowledge and the necessity of continuous learning were emphasized. Strategic decision-making based on an association’s purpose to achieve community impact was also discussed. The AfSAE platform’s membership was opened to individuals and trade organizations, with different tiers and benefits. Certificates of participation were distributed, and gratitude was expressed for the contributions and presence of all attendees.
