About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
LINGUA Africa has officially launched an open call for proposals aimed at strengthening inclusive artificial intelligence through open language resources across Africa. The initiative seeks to address the underrepresentation of African languages in modern AI systems by supporting projects that build datasets, language tools, and real-world applications designed for African communities.
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The programme is a collaborative initiative led by Microsoft AI for Good Lab, the Gates Foundation, the Masakhane African Languages Hub, and Google.org.
Applications are open until 15 June 2026.
Why LINGUA Africa Matters
Thousands of African languages remain largely absent from datasets, AI models, and digital tools. This lack of representation creates barriers for millions of people attempting to access essential services increasingly powered by digital technologies.
The initiative highlights challenges in areas such as:
Education
Healthcare information
Financial inclusion
Public services
Agriculture and food security
Civic participation
Without language-inclusive technologies, many communities are excluded from opportunities created by artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
LINGUA Africa aims to bridge this gap by supporting African-led solutions that place language accessibility at the centre of technological innovation.
Building on Previous Global Language Initiatives
The programme builds upon lessons from LINGUA Europe, which focused on supporting open datasets and evaluation resources for underrepresented European languages.
However, LINGUA Africa expands this approach by prioritising projects that connect language technology directly to practical community impact and real-world use cases.
The initiative also works closely with the Masakhane African Languages Hub, a leading community-driven network supporting natural language processing (NLP) for African languages.
The partnership emphasises:
Community stewardship
Open collaboration
Local ownership
Long-term language inclusion in AI systems
Who Can Apply?
The open call welcomes applications from a broad range of organisations involved in technology, language development, education, research, and social innovation.
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Eligible applicants include:
Nonprofit organisations
Universities
Research institutes
Social enterprises
Cultural organisations
Startups
Multi-organisation consortia
Applications are open to organisations both within and outside Africa, provided they demonstrate meaningful collaboration with African institutions, communities, or implementation partners.
Collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged, particularly those combining technical expertise with local community engagement.
Grant Categories and Funding Support
LINGUA Africa offers funding and technical support across three main categories.
Data Creation Projects
These projects focus on:
Building datasets
Translating and validating language resources
Curating and documenting language data
Developing openly licensed resources
Suggested support includes:
Up to $50,000 in cash funding
Up to $50,000 in compute credits
Model and Tool Development
This category supports projects focused on:
AI model development
Benchmarks and evaluation systems
Language tools and technical infrastructure
Adaptation of AI systems for African languages
Suggested support includes:
Up to $100,000 in funding
Up to $100,000 in compute credits
Sectoral Applications
This category targets projects deploying language technologies in real-world settings with measurable social or economic impact.
Areas of focus include:
Healthcare
Agriculture
Education
Government services
Financial inclusion
Suggested support includes:
Up to $250,000 in cash funding
Up to $400,000 in compute credits
Exceptional funding requests may also be considered where strong justification is provided.
Technical and Ecosystem Support
Selected projects will receive more than financial support. Participants will also gain access to valuable technical infrastructure and expert collaboration opportunities.
Additional support includes:
Azure compute credits
Google Cloud Platform credits
Technical collaboration from Microsoft AI for Good Lab
Networking and ecosystem collaboration opportunities
The programme aims to strengthen both technological capacity and long-term innovation ecosystems across Africa.
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Priority Areas for Impact
LINGUA Africa prioritises projects that demonstrate meaningful community engagement and a clear pathway to measurable impact.
Priority themes include:
Agriculture and food security
Healthcare and public health
Education and literacy
Government and civic services
Financial inclusion
The initiative seeks proposals that clearly explain:
Who will benefit
How the resources will be used
Why the project matters for speakers of underrepresented African languages
Projects should also demonstrate strong governance structures and plans for open licensing and resource sharing.
Commitment to Open and Inclusive AI
A central goal of LINGUA Africa is ensuring that African languages are fully included in the future of artificial intelligence.
All funded projects are expected to contribute:
Openly licensed datasets
Reusable language resources
Documentation and governance frameworks
Tools that support broader research and innovation
The programme seeks to prevent African languages from becoming an afterthought in the global AI ecosystem.
Importance of African Language Representation in AI
The initiative recognises that language accessibility is essential for ensuring equitable access to digital innovation.
By investing in African language technologies, LINGUA Africa aims to:
Expand digital inclusion
Strengthen local AI ecosystems
Support culturally relevant innovation
Improve access to critical information
Build sustainable AI capacity across Africa
The programme also reinforces the importance of community-led innovation in shaping ethical and inclusive AI systems.
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Conclusion
The LINGUA Africa Open Call represents a major investment in the future of inclusive artificial intelligence and African language technology.
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Through funding, technical support, and collaborative partnerships, the initiative aims to empower organisations developing open language resources and practical AI solutions for African communities.
Organisations interested in advancing inclusive AI and language accessibility are encouraged to submit their applications before the June 2026 deadline.
How to apply