Introduction
The Lab for Ethics, Policy and Scaling of AI (LEPSAI), under the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), invites eligible AI innovators based in sub-Saharan Africa to submit proposals for the AI4D Innovation Pillar Challenge. This initiative, part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) program, aims to support and scale responsible AI innovations that address critical development challenges in sectors such as health, gender equality, education, climate change adaptation, and agriculture. The challenge seeks to foster inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI ecosystems while promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among innovators, mentors, and user communities.
Background
The AI4D program, launched in 2020 as AI4D Africa, has evolved into its second phase in 2024, expanding to include Africa and Asia. Supported by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and Swedish SIDA, AI4D promotes responsible AI ecosystems through four pillars: AI Policy and Governance, AI Fundamentals (skills, data, and compute), Innovation, and Scaling. The program emphasizes five cross-cutting priorities: Southern Leadership, Research and Evidence, Responsible AI, Gender, Disability and Inclusion (GEDI), and Global Partnerships.
The AI4D Innovation Pillar Challenge, managed by LEPSAI, supports the scaling of AI innovations with demonstrated social impact in priority sectors. The challenge provides funding, mentorship through the Scaling of Responsible AI Solutions (SRAIS) program, and networking opportunities to enhance collaboration and advance inclusive AI ecosystems across Africa.
Objectives
The AI4D Innovation Pillar Challenge aims to:  

• Support the scaling of responsible AI innovations that address development challenges in priority sectors, including gender equality, education, climate change adaptation, and agriculture.  
• Facilitate learning, documentation, and knowledge-sharing on responsible AI development and scaling through mentorship and community engagement.  
• Mitigate risks by providing third-party assessments of responsible AI, emphasizing gender and inclusion.  
• Strengthen networks of innovators, mentors, and user communities for greater collaboration and visibility. 
• Enhance understanding of responsible AI practices, particularly from GEDI perspectives.  
• Increase access to additional funding opportunities for scalable innovations.  
• Ensure ethical considerations to prepare for future audits or regulatory changes. 

Scope of Work
Selected innovators will be expected to:  

• Execute the proposed project within the agreed budget and timeline, ensuring accountability.  
• Participate actively in the SRAIS mentorship program, engaging in regular, interactive sessions to refine and scale their AI solutions responsibly.  
• Implement lessons learned from mentorship, demonstrating progress through periodic check-ins, presentations, or prototype showcases.  
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing by documenting insights and lessons learned for the broader AI ecosystem.  
• Provide regular updates on project milestones, challenges, and outcomes.  
• Engage closely with the target user community throughout the development cycle to ensure relevance and impact.  
• Commit to deploying the innovation to create measurable social impact.  
• Share outcomes and impacts for case studies and advocacy purposes. 

Focus Sectors
Proposals must align with one or more of the following priority sectors: 

1. Gender, Equality, and Inclusion: Solutions promoting equal rights, opportunities, and access, particularly for women, persons with disabilities (PWD), and other marginalized groups.  
2. Education & Skills Development: AI-driven tools to enhance learning experiences and outcomes.  
3. Agriculture & Food Security: Innovations to improve productivity and sustainability in agriculture.  
4. Climate Action & Environmental Sustainability: AI applications for environmental monitoring, climate resilience, or sustainable resource management e.g., deforestation tracking, climate forecasting, water/air quality monitoring.  
5. Other Sectors: Any sector with significant potential for social impact in Africa. 

Priority Consideration: Proposals led by or serving women, persons with disabilities (PWD), or involving assistive technologies (AT) will receive priority. 
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must be based and indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa and include:  

• Individual researchers and innovators.  
• AI startups, MSMEs, or SMEs.  
• Research institutions and universities are engaged in AI research and development.  
• AI-focused innovation hubs and incubators.  
• Consortia of multiple stakeholders collaborating on AI solutions. 

Applicants must demonstrate:  

1. An innovative AI solution addressing a specific challenge in one or more focus sectors.  
2. The significance of the problem and the inadequacy of existing solutions.  
3. A clearly defined target user community and commitment to engaging them throughout the development cycle.  
4. The current stage of the solution; ideation, prototype development, trialing, scaling and a detailed plan for subsequent stages, including deliverables, timelines, and costs.  
5. Potential for scalability and sustainability beyond the funding cycle.  
6. Commitment to ethical AI practices as guided by the project.  
7. Willingness to actively participate in the SRAIS mentorship program and the AI4D Community of Practice (CoP). 

Funding and Benefits

• Funding: Seed funding ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 20,000, depending on the stage of solution development and scaling plans. Additional funding may be available for solutions demonstrating significant scalability potential.  
• Mentorship: Access to the SRAIS mentorship program, providing guidance from global experts on ethical AI development and scaling.  
• Networking: Opportunities to connect with innovators, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and funders.  
• Knowledge-Sharing: Support for documenting and sharing insights to contribute to the broader AI ecosystem. 

Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of experts with competencies in Technical AI, domain expertise, responsible AI/GEDI, scaling, and PWD expertise. The evaluation will be based on:  

1. Innovativeness (20%): Novelty and creativity of the AI solution.  
2. Usefulness and Impact (25%): Significance of the problem and potential for deep or broad community impact.  
3. User Engagement (20%): Clear identification of the target user community and commitment to collaborative development.  
4. Feasibility (15%): Practicality of implementation, including technical and financial viability.  
5. Scalability (15%): Potential for scaling and sustainability, with a clear plan to pursue aggressive scaling.  
6. Responsible AI and Mentorship Commitment (5%): Dedication to ethical AI practices, SRAIS mentorship, and the AI4D CoP. 

Important Dates 

• RFP Announcement:  
• Proposal Submission Deadline:  
• Notification of Shortlisting:  
• Submission of Full Proposals (for shortlisted applicants): 
• Final Selection and Award Notification: 

Contact Information
For inquiries or further information, please contact: LEPSAI-ACTS
Address: 2nd Floor, KoTDA Complex, Konza Technopolis,Machakos,Kenya
Email: lepsai@acts-net.org
Website: www.acts-net.org  

Terms and Conditions 

• Submission of a proposal does not guarantee selection or funding.  
• All submissions must adhere to the guidelines provided. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. 
• Applicants agree to comply with the terms outlined in this RFP and the AI4D Innovation Pillar Challenge.  
• Selected innovators must sign an agreement outlining funding terms, mentorship participation, and reporting requirements.