Good news! IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative is currently open. The plan of the IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative is to make sure that policymakers across Africa can find and leverage state-of-the-art, objective and high-quality AI-related policy research that will influence decision-making on important responsible AI policy matters. As a result, this will help communities across the continent to profit from the opportunities that AI renders, including improved health, agriculture, governance, education and economic prospects, while being shielded as far as possible from the possible harms of AI.
To this extend, the method of the AI policy centres program is to offer financial support for implementing a responsible AI policy research agenda, mentorship, and capacity building, along with knowledge interacting opportunities that will back broad-based responsible AI policy research organizations in Africa.
Application Deadline: 4th November 2020 by 23:59 (EDT)
Eligible Field(s): Policy and research themes can include (but are not limited to):
- Enabling beneficial AI research and development
- Economic effects, labor shifts, inequality, and technological unemployment
- Accountability, transparency, and explainability
- Surveillance, privacy, and civil liberties
- Fairness, ethics, and human rights
- Diversity and gender equality
- Data capacity, analytics, protection and governance
- Political manipulation and computational propaganda
- Human dignity, autonomy, and psychological impact
- AI safety
Type: Grants
Suitability for IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative
This request for applications is open to established research organizations from eligible countries across the African continent with strong research and policy engagement track records in the subjects that are critical for responsible AI. Only institutions that meet the suitability prerequisite detailed here should submit proposals for possible funding.
To be qualified, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
- Hold a trajectory record of research and analysis on the governance of digital technologies, and experience with developing and giving input on digital policies and regulations in a national and/or regional context. This includes experience with the cluster of issues that intersect with AI and the digital ecosystem;
- Candidates must show subject area proficiency in at least three of the main AI policy and research themes listed in policy research areas below and show capacity and drive to augment work in other critical areas. Given the complication of AI policy issues, this prevents institutions that place attention solely on one sector or policy issue; and
- Be dedicated to utilizing research to inform national (and regional) public debates and to build spaces for discussion and fresh ideas.
Concluding decisions will be dependent on selecting one Centre from each linguistic category.
Institutions must at the minimum:
- Should be legally registered in the country operation will take place;
- Have and provide audited financial statements;
- Should have a Board of Directors and a chief executive that is answerable to the Board;
- Have ethics protocols in place for research;
- Should have the capability to assemble researchers from other nations in the region;
- Be a non-governmental, non-profit independent organization;
- Not rely solely on the government for finance;
- Carry out policy-oriented research;
- Carry out “multi-sector” research on advanced technology policy issues that bring together social and economic policy issues.
Organizations must be currently existing policy research organizations. Finance will not be provided for the making of novel centres/think tanks, nor to centres made for the aim of applying for a grant from this initiative.
The anticipated outcomes include reliable research, solid organizational performance, high quality research and policy planning capability with proven impact on AI policies and improved policy engagement.
Eligible Countries for IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative
Nations in Africa (This finance opportunity will offer funding to two (2) AI policy research organizations representing distinct linguistic regions (anglophone and francophone)
Number of Awards: 2
Rewards of IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative
The benefits of IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative is CA$2.5 million for 2 centres.
Duration of Award: 3 years
How to Apply for IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative
Proposals will be submitted via baobab.ai4d.ai. Applicants will need to generate an account, which will allow them to access their application as numerous times as they want until you choose to submit. Applicants will also need more information and documentation to finish the proposal, as well as examples of their research and policy work and the CVs of their research team.
The proposal and all demanded supporting documents must be submitted through baobab.ai4d.ai no later than
23:59 EDT on November 4, 2020.
- It is imperative to go through all application prerequisite in the Award Webpage (see Link below) prior to applying.
- GOODLUCK as you apply for IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative
Visit Award Webpage for Details on IDRC Canada/Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) AI4D Africa Initiative.