LINGUA Africa Open Call for Inclusive AI Language Projects
    LINGUA Africa Open Call for Inclusive AI Language Projects
    Grant

    LINGUA Africa Open Call for Inclusive AI Language Projects

    Apply by Jun 15, 2026

    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 Region

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

    Target Sector

    Technology and AI focused on language inclusivity

    Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Gates Foundation, Masakhane African Languages Hub, Google.org

    Apply