LINGUA Africa Open Call for Inclusive AI Language Projects

About

An open call inviting proposals for projects that enhance the representation of African languages in AI systems, offering funding, technical support, and cloud credits to organizations committed to community engagement and real-world impact.

Benefits

• 💰Financial Support
  Up to $250K in cash and additional compute credits based on project category
• 🎓Technical Collaboration
  In-kind technical collaboration from Microsoft AI for Good Lab and other partners
• 🌐Cloud Credits
  Access to Azure compute credits and Google Cloud Platform credits for project development
• 📈Community Engagement
  Priority given to projects demonstrating strong community involvement and impact pathways
• 🎤Open Resources
  All supported projects must contribute openly licensed resources for reuse in research and applications.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to nonprofits, universities, research institutes, social enterprises, cultural organizations, startups, and consortia working in the public interest
• Organizations must demonstrate meaningful partnership with Africa-based institutions or communities
• Projects should focus on data creation, model/tool development, or sectoral applications related to African languages
• Collaborative proposals that enhance community engagement and cross-domain expertise are encouraged
• Proposals must show a credible path to measurable social or economic impact.

Participation Commitments

• Must submit proposals under the category that best reflects the primary objective of the project
• All projects are expected to contribute openly licensed resources with proper documentation
• Projects should demonstrate a credible path to impact in relevant sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare
• Collaboration with Africa-based institutions is required for proposals from outside Africa.

Target Sector

Technology and AI focused on language inclusivity

Target Location

Open to organizations based in Africa and those outside with partnerships in Africa