Artificial Intelligence for public sector Governance: Implications for Monitoring and Evaluation and Policy Reform"

Abstract

This review synthesizes research on "Application of AI in developing countries like Zanzibar, new roles for M&E professionals, and necessary policy reforms" to address the gap between AI’s potential and practical implementation in low-resource contexts. The review aimed to evaluate AI applications and challenges in Zanzibar’s context, benchmark AI-enhanced M&E methodologies, identify evolving M&E roles, analyze necessary policy reforms, and compare relevant case studies. A systematic analysis of multidisciplinary literature encompassing empirical studies, case reports, and policy analyses was conducted, focusing on African and island developing states. Findings reveal that AI significantly advances socio-economic development and public service delivery but is constrained by infrastructural deficits and digital literacy gaps. M&E professionals require new competencies in data science, ethical governance, and participatory approaches to manage AI integration effectively. Comprehensive, adaptable policy frameworks emphasizing capacity building, ethical safeguards, and inclusive governance are critical yet under-implemented in Zanzibar and similar settings. Ethical and capacity challenges, including data privacy and algorithmic bias, persist without robust operational frameworks. Collectively, these findings underscore the \

transformative potential of AI contingent on context-specific capacity building and policy reforms. The review highlights the necessity for inclusive, evidence-based governance models to ensure equitable AI adoption and sustainable development outcomes in developing countries.