Description:
Title:Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D) Scholarships 2025 for Ph.D. students in AI and ML
Application deadline: January 5th, 2025
AI4D Scholarship Programme Enhancing Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Sub-Saharan Africa by Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
Background
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has received a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to support the scholarship of Persons with Disability (PWD) within sub-Saharan Africa. The funding will support the training of PhD students in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as well as the research work of Early Career Academics in AI & ML. The research work within this program must be in AI that attempt to address any of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The award of the scholarships shall strive to achieve uniform distribution of beneficiaries across Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone sub-Saharan Africa. Our strategy is to enhance representation of equity-seeking groups. Based on the applications received, we will seek to ensure women fill a minimum of 50% of the positions given their under-representation in the AI field. There will also be an effort to achieve fair distribution in terms of region. The supported studies MUST adhere to responsible AI.
Data Collection: The studies need to be solution facing, with a carefully designed problem definition which involves a user community, a systematic data collection regime which will result in good quality data that will be used to develop solutions with predictive/diagnostic/generative precision. Please note that elaborate and precise data collection with the user communities is the main factor that ensures usability of a solution and therefore its success in deployment. Data collected in this project will be accessible to the grant manager and published to support future research activities in accordance with IDRC Open Access Policy.
You will be required to show active efforts to deploy the solutions beyond the studies.
Eligible Countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Formerly Known as Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, The Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Scholarship
Please read details of each category and click the link to the category of scholarship that you wish to pursue and follow the subsequent application instructions.
Eligibility
- All applicants must be already registered in an AI study (machine learning, expert system, natural language processing, intelligent robotics etc.) under a supervisor, have finished coursework as well as had their research proposal approved. The applicant must attach a letter of support by their supervisor, a copy of the PhD study admission letter, and evidence of approval of research proposal.
- All applicants should have competent academic credentials and demonstrate motivation and commitment to pursue an academic career.
- All applicants should have thorough knowledge of the language of instruction within their host university. (French or Portuguese, English).
- All applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of an eligible sub-Saharan country. (See the list of eligible countries above).
- Must be a Person with Disability (PWD) – physical, sensory, intellectual, or any other recognized disability. Should have a PWD registration certificate issued by state/national council/body or any other relevant form of documentation.
- Have all necessary national or other approvals to conduct the proposed research. Please note, the approval process may be conducted in parallel with the grant application, if necessary.
Benefits
Each successful student will receive a partial scholarship of up to US$ 28,000 distributed as shown
below:
1. Tuition fees for two years up to $ 4,000
2. Research activities up to $ 24,000
For more information:Â
