The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), with support from International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is proud to launch a scholarship program aimed at empowering women in AI and Machine Learning (ML).
📅 Apply by March 14, 2025
This program supports:
✅ PhD students in AI/ML
✅ Early-career researchers conducting impactful studies
✅ Research addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
📌 Eligibility: Open to women across Sub-Saharan Africa. Projects must focus on responsible AI and include solution-oriented, user-community-focused research with robust data collection methods.
Call for Applications
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) invites applications for the AI4D Scholarship Programme, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
This initiative aims to empower women candidates in sub-Saharan Africa by funding their doctoral studies and early career research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
Key Details
Objectives:
- Enhance academic research in AI and ML by women candidates.
- Address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative AI solutions.
- Foster responsible AI practices.
Eligible Countries:
Candidates must be nationals or permanent residents of the following sub-Saharan African countries:
- Anglophone: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Francophone: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles
- Lusophone: Angola, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe
Categories of Scholarships
Category 1: Registered PhD Students
- Eligibility:
- Must be registered in an AI-related PhD program with approved coursework and research proposal.
- Must provide a letter of support from a supervisor.
- Nationality in an eligible country is required.
- Funding: Up to $28,000 for 24 months, including:
- Tuition fees (up to $4,000)
- Research activities (up to $24,000)
Category 2: Early Career Academics (ECAs)
- Eligibility:
- Must hold a PhD in AI or ML obtained within the last 5 years.
- Should have the ability to supervise MSc students.
- Must be a national or permanent resident of an eligible country.
- Funding: Up to $41,500 for 24 months, including:
- Research costs (up to $25,000)
- Research infrastructure (up to $10,000)
- Travel costs (up to $2,500)
- Tuition fees for 2 MSc students (up to $4,000)
Important Dates
- Call for Applications Opens: 14 January 2025
- Webinars: 31 January and 28 February 2025 at 3:00 PM EAT
- Call for Applications Closes: 14 March 2025
Capacity Strengthening Activities:
Beneficiaries will have access to:
- Mentoring for Responsible AI Solutions (SRAIS).
- Frameworks for responsible data collection.
- Capacity building on scaling AI solutions.
- AI policy development.
- Participation in a research and development conference.
Application Instructions
For additional details, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, please visit the [Scholarship Page](insert link).
Contact Information
For general inquiries, please email: lepsai@acts-net.org or reach us at:
African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
ICIPE Duduville Campus, Kasarani
P.O. Box 45917 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Phone: +254710607210 || +254737916566
Email: info@acts-net.org
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.
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This is a significant opportunity for women in sub-Saharan Africa to advance their careers in fields that are crucial for the region’s development and innovation in AI and ML. We encourage eligible candidates to apply!