The Flanders RAM marks a milestone in the global implementation of the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. While UNESCO has now conducted the Readiness Assessment Methodology in more than 75 countries, Flanders is the first region to undertake the exercise at the sub-national level, and one of the first to pilot the new RAM 2.0 framework, contributing to its continued global development.
UNESCO handed over the RAM to the cabinet of the Minister-President of Flanders, Matthias Diependaele. Joined on stage also by Judit Rozsa, Director at the European Commission’s Secretariat-General (SG), Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM)
Flanders has shown that the ethical governance of AI is not the preserve of national governments alone, but a responsibility that lives wherever AI impacts the lives of citizens.
In partnership with the Digitaal Vlaanderen’s AI Expertise Centre over the past year to develop a comprehensive picture of Flanders’ AI readiness and to provide actionable recommendations for ethical AI governance.
The Readiness Assessment Methodology is a diagnostic tool developed by UNESCO to support governments in evaluating their preparedness to implement artificial intelligence in line with ethical principles, human rights, and the public interest. In the case of Flanders, the assessment was adapted to a multi-level governance context, reflecting regional, federal, and European dimensions, which was supplemented by expert interviews and stakeholder consultations across the Flemish AI ecosystem.
The report presents a set of governance recommendations aligned with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. These include strengthening independent oversight mechanisms, enhancing capacity for ethical impact assessments, promoting inclusive AI literacy and reskilling across society, and safeguarding the wellbeing of young people in AI-driven environments.
The assessment highlights the coherence between the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the European Union AI Act. It illustrates how the strengthening of ethical AI readiness, as promoted by the Recommendation, supports the effective implementation of regulatory requirements under the AI Act. Both instruments contribute to a shared objective of ensuring that artificial intelligence is developed and deployed in a manner that is rights-based, trustworthy, and oriented towards the public good.
Across nearly all dimensions of the assessment, AI literacy emerges as a central enabler for the adoption of artificial intelligence, for inclusion, and for ensuring that its benefits are widely shared. The report also identifies key areas for action, including embedding inclusion as a core principle of AI policy, strengthening ethical oversight at regional level, and addressing cross-cutting challenges related to the environmental impact of AI and the risks of mis- and disinformation.
The report is intended as a starting point for continued engagement. It supports ongoing efforts to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed and deployed in ways that uphold human rights, strengthen inclusion, and serve the public good.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/first-local-readiness-assessment-report-launched-flanders?hub=701
