Project summary

I am seeking funding to attend Pan African AI & Innovation Summit Sept 22-23, 2026 in Accra, Ghana from Washington, DC. I have already been accepted as a panelist and speaker but need funding to participate and extend my work on human in the loop and institutional authority in African AI government systems. The title of the presentation is Who Can Stop the Machine? This would be my second conference in Africa on AI.

Accra gives me an opportunity to continue that work in person and bring my research directly to policymakers, technologists, and others working on AI adoption and governance in Africa.

I recently had to give up an accepted presentation at an AI policy conference in Barcelona because I could not afford the travel. I do not want funding to be the reason I have to give up this opportunity too.

Conference website: panafricanaisummit.com

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

Goals of the project are to afford me the opportunity to travel to present on research in institutional authority in agentic AI deployment. Widen my audience in person in the African context and extend my network and ideas on the continent. The goal is to assist the continent with its technical and policy adoption and deployment of AI systems.

How will this funding be used?

The funding will be used for airfare, transportation to and from airports in Washington and Accra, the conference fee, hotel, local transportation, meals, and partial replacement of income I will lose from my current paid contract legal work while traveling to and participating in the summit.

Estimated budget:

• Airfare: $2,000

• Hotel: $1,000

• Conference fee: $150

• U.S. airport transportation: $240

• Ghana transportation: $200

• Meals: $250

• Lost income/time buyout: $1,400

• Total: $5,240
  

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

I am the lone person on the team. I have spoken at conferences in the US and once before in Africa (Kampala October 2025). I am an attorney, former congressional Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel, professor, and technology policy professional. My current work focuses on AI governance, institutional authority, and AI policy in Africa and the United States.

My recent AI-governance work has appeared in FedScoop, Nextgov, Tech Policy Press, RealClearDefense, Techpoint Africa, and Broadband Breakfast. I have presented versions of this research through the AI Sovereignty Network and at N-SEA 2026, and related work has been accepted for HCOMP 2026 and other academic and policy conferences.

I am also Director of Policy and Research at AI Safety Nigeria and an Inner Council Member of the AI Sovereignty Network. In less than three months, I grew my independent AI-governance Substack to approximately 400 subscribers.

Please see my LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/arthurdsidney) and Substack (https://substack.com/@arthurdsidney) for more on me.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

This project will only fail if I am unable to raise the money in time. I am an established presenter and educator. It will be a growth opportunity.

I was also recently accepted to present at an AI policy conference in Barcelona but had to give up the opportunity because I could not afford the travel. I do not want to lose another international speaking opportunity for the same reason.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

I have not raised any money for this trip. I have not previously used Manifund to raise money for myself. I also have a separate Manifund proposal seeking support for my larger Who Can Stop the Machine? research project. That funding is separate from this request, and I will not seek reimbursement twice for the same travel expenses.