Algeria Targets 30,000 AI Specialists by 2030 to Drive Digital Economy
Algeria plans to train 30,000 AI specialists by 2030 as the government places human capital at the center of its national artificial intelligence strategy. The national AI plan focuses on five areas: sovereign open-source AI models, data, digital infrastructure, human skills and public-administration modernization. 13. 2% of Algeria’s working population already. . .
Algeria plans to train 30,000 AI specialists by 2030 as the government places human capital at the center of its national artificial intelligence strategy. The national AI plan focuses on five areas: sovereign open-source AI models, data, digital infrastructure, human skills and public-administration modernization. 13. 2% of Algeria’s working population already uses AI tools, ranking the country ninth in Africa and ahead of Morocco at 11. 7%, according to Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Q1 2026 report. Algeria is making talent development a central pillar of its national AI strategy. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Kamel Baddari, minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired the first interministerial coordination meeting dedicated to implementing the national AI plan in Algiers. Representatives from several ministries and national institutions attended the meeting. The plan rests on five strategic pillars. The first pillar focuses on developing sovereign and open-source government AI models. The other pillars cover data, digital infrastructure, human skills and public-administration modernization. The government aims to reduce its dependence on foreign solutions and protect national data through the strategy. Training sits at the heart of the plan. During the National Universities Conference last month, Baddari announced a target to train 30,000 AI specialists by 2030. The National Higher School of Artificial Intelligence (ENSIA) at the Sidi Abdallah technology hub serves as the flagship institution for that effort. The school offers a five-year program leading to a state engineering degree in AI and data science. The campus opened in April and covers 87 hectares. It brings together four national schools with a combined capacity of 20,000 students. Algeria is also building on training programs that were already operating. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications launched the national “7. 77” program earlier this year. The initiative provides citizens of all ages with basic digital skills. By the end of May 2026, the program had 64,508 registered participants nationwide, including 15,221 in Algiers province. The government also launched a national AI training program in April. The initiative brings together the Ministry of Vocational Training and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. The 2026-2027 academic year will further expand the use of AI across universities. Universities will use AI to personalize each student’s academic pathway. A language model developed for Algerian universities will also support teachers by helping them create educational activities and assess student work. Baddari described the shift as the beginning of“the era of the intelligent university that produces wealth. ”Algeria’s strategy forms part of a broader African trend toward greater AI adoption. Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Q1 2026 report, which measures AI use among the working population, ranked Algeria ninth in Africa. About 13. 2% of Algeria’s working population already uses AI tools, compared with 11. 7% in Morocco. This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo LokossouAdapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum