Following a highly competitive RFP Cycle 3, which received over 800 applications, Masakhane African Languages Hub (The Hub) continues to support the development of inclusive AI for African languages.
LINGUA Africa is an initiative led by the Masakhane African Languages Hub, in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, Microsoft AI for Good Lab, and Google.org. The initiative strengthens the foundations of inclusive AI in Africa by supporting the creation of open language resources, enabling tools, and real-world applications for African languages.
The selected projects span three funding categories:
Data Creation: Building and curating datasets and language resources
Model or Tool Development: Developing models, benchmarks, and infrastructure
Sectoral Applications: Deploying language technologies in real-world settings with measurable impact
Support is provided through two funding models:
Cash + Compute
Compute Only
List of Awardees
We congratulate all successful applicants and thank every individual and organisation that submitted a proposal. The overwhelming response demonstrates the growing momentum of the African language AI community and reinforces our shared commitment to building open, inclusive, and impactful AI for Africa.
Well Done!
Thank you