Prof. Muthoni Masinde presents her internationally recognised ITIKI research during the Af-STAG DRR Pan-African webinar, highlighting the integration of Indigenous Knowledge, Artificial Intelligence, and scientific evidence for disaster-risk reduction in Africa.

Professor Muthoni Masinde, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), presented her internationally recognised work on combining Indigenous Knowledge, Artificial Intelligence and scientific evidence during a Pan-African webinar on 30 July 2026.

The webinar, titled Building Trusted Decision Intelligence for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa: Lessons from the ITIKI Case Study, was organised by the African Science and Technology Advisory Group for Disaster Risk Reduction (Af-STAG DRR).

Prof. Masinde was headhunted by the Chair of Af-STAG DRR and subsequently invited to present the ITIKI case study at the Pan-African webinar. The invitation further recognises her standing as a researcher and expert in integrating Indigenous Knowledge with contemporary science and technology.

“Being approached after the Af-STAG DRR discovered my work online was particularly meaningful,” said Prof. Masinde. “It demonstrates that African research can achieve visibility and influence well beyond its immediate institutional environment. More importantly, it creates opportunities for Indigenous knowledge, community observations and African scientific expertise to help shape continental conversations about disaster-risk reduction.”

Prof. Masinde’s presentation drew on more than two decades of research and operational experience, particularly her work in developing ITIKI, an African-created drought and environmental intelligence platform that combines Indigenous Knowledge, community observations, environmental data and Artificial Intelligence.

She explained that the effectiveness of AI in disaster-risk reduction depends on the quality, relevance and trustworthiness of the evidence used to support decisions. Although AI is increasingly promoted as a transformative technology, African institutions continue to encounter challenges involving data availability, infrastructure, institutional capacity, interoperability and the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge.

Her central message was that trusted decision intelligence cannot be built through technology alone. Communities, scientists, institutions and mandated authorities must work together to collect, interpret, validate and govern evidence before it is converted into advice or action.

“Indigenous Knowledge and science should not be treated as competing systems,” she said. “Each contributes different forms of evidence. The challenge is to bring them together responsibly while preserving community ownership, scientific integrity and institutional accountability.”

The webinar attracted a diverse Pan-African audience with at least 57 participants representing a wide range of institutions. Attendees also included representatives from more than 10 universities, government departments, civil society organisations, and development institutions across at least 8 African countries.

The audience’s questions reflected the growing concern about the governance of African data and knowledge. Participants asked how Indigenous Knowledge incorporated into AI systems could be protected against unauthorised appropriation or commercialisation. They also raised questions about African-owned AI infrastructure, interoperability and the possibility of developing a continent-wide body of Indigenous Knowledge observations without removing that knowledge from its cultural context.

The invitation builds on Prof. Masinde’s established research profile. She received an NRF C2 rating in 2021 and has developed an interdisciplinary body of work spanning Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, wireless sensor networks, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and environmental modelling. Her ITIKI research has attracted coverage from international media organisations including CNN, BBC and Reuters. She has also served in international scientific and expert-evaluation roles.

The webinar demonstrated CUT’s contribution to research that is technologically advanced, socially responsive and grounded in African realities. It also strengthened the university’s visibility within continental networks concerned with disaster-risk reduction, climate resilience and the responsible application of AI.

For Prof. Masinde, the growing interest in ITIKI confirms the value of locally grounded innovation. “Africa does not need to choose between its knowledge traditions and technological progress.” We can build systems that respect communities, strengthen scientific evidence and produce trusted intelligence for decisions that protect lives and livelihoods,” she said.