Valeria Sandei among the main speakers at the AI Sustainable Hub

“Artificial Intelligence is truly effective only when it is grounded in the real-world contexts in which it operates. This is why we don’t need all the data—just the right data: useful, high-quality, and necessary to generate reliable and practical models.” These were the words of Valeria Sandei, CEO of Almawave, speaking at the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, currently taking place in Rome. The platform aims to accelerate sustainable industrial growth in Africa through the responsible use of AI. It is promoted under the Italian G7 Presidency by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with African partners involved in the Mattei Plan.

Sandei emphasized the importance of a practical, solution-oriented AI that addresses real needs.

“There is no one-size-fits-all AI. Healthcare, justice, public administration—each domain requires its own expertise, different processes, and in-depth domain knowledge,” she continued, highlighting the need to work closely with sector experts to build truly effective solutions.
Almawave’s experience in Tanzania stands out as a best practice: the development of generative models based on African languages such as Swahili—using proprietary assets—demonstrates how data governance can become a tool for cultural enhancement and inclusion.

According to Sandei, what’s crucial is “an integrated ecosystem made up of companies, startups, universities, and institutions that—through targeted and sustainable funding—can support research, implementation, training, and local impact. Artificial intelligence can truly be a driver of sustainable development only if it starts with clear goals, reliable data, and solutions co-designed with those who face these challenges every day,” Sandei concluded.