Development Cooperation,  Human Rights and Emerging  Technologies

This policy brief builds on the insights from the project The Technological Leap and Cooperation: What Challenges for Rights?, undertaken over the past year, to explore the complex relationship between development cooperation, human rights, and emerging technologies. It focuses on the role of AI in promoting a rights-oriented approach to development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The paper identifies several key challenges, including the ethical responsibility surrounding AI use, the need for inclusiveness and non-discrimination, and the governance gaps that emerge within North-South cooperation frameworks. By analysing current practices and the potential risks of AI deployment, the paper highlights the importance of addressing inequality, privacy, and accountability. The recommendations target both national authorities and NGOs, calling for stronger, more inclusive governance frameworks, capacity-building initiatives, and coordinated efforts to ensure AI technologies are harnessed ethically, promoting equitable development while safeguarding human rights.