Thomas Isbell, Ph.D. is a specialist in digital transformation and data services at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and an Afrobarometer Associate Fellow. He has experience as a former lecturer in survey design and quantitative research methodology at the University of Cape Town and has served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa. With a strong background in data collection, analysis (SPSS, R, Python), visualization (Seaborn, Dash), and data-driven storytelling in developmental contexts, Thomas is particularly interested in GIS, path analysis, and web scraping. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Cape Town, where his research focused on the impact of perceived economic inequality on democratic culture in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Topic: Implementing Responsible AI Assessments: A NovelMethodology for Ethical AI in International Development

The session will present the 'Responsible AI Assessments' methodology developed by GIZ FAIR Forward, Eticas, and a global community of AI inclusion experts. This methodology aligns with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2022) and offers a step-by-step guide for assessing AI systems qualitatively and quantitatively, emphasizing ethical considerations, inclusivity, and bias mitigation. The session aims to raise awareness about the importance of ethical AI in international development, demonstrate the methodology through case studies, engage participants in discussions, and share strategies for supporting partners in ensuring inclusive and ethical AI development.