This volume comes at a time when governments, international development actors, continental organisations, and businesses are striving to find effective ways to leverage AI technologies in Africa and other regions. Unlike in the last decade, a more intentional research agenda and policy designs are taking shape to inform and guide this trajectory at continental and national levels. AI institutions and adoption strategies are being established to develop responsible AI, fit-to-context applications, and AI regulation for governance purposes. There is no doubt that AI is poised to expand significantly in the next decade, given the substantial changes it has prompted and the unlimited opportunities it presents across various policy sectors today. AI is increasingly recognised as a powerful driver for economic growth in Africa, leading many countries to initiate processes and draft relevant national policies to integrate AI into governing systems. This volume serves as a modest attempt to inform this agenda. From a public policy (AI for government) perspective, it builds on existing discussions and research agendas on opportunities and challenges related to AI. It examines AI-related policy design issues and how these policies are currently designed or should be crafted within the political, historical and socio-economic contexts, as well as complex challenges African countries face towards this endevour. This chapter introduces this volume. It identifies key policy design dimensions, showcasing different policy issues characterising AI national strategy development across Africa. The chapter concludes by summarising and tying together different topics and arguments covered in different chapters.