Grant opportunity
LINGUA Africa Open Call for Inclusive AI Language Projects
LINGUA Africa supports inclusive African language AI projects that create datasets, models, tools, and applied solutions grounded in African communities and local language needs.
- Funder
- Microsoft AI for Good Lab / Gates Foundation / Masakhane African Languages Hub
- Application deadline
- Application deadline: Jun 15, 2026
- Award
- Cash grants, cloud compute credits, technical support, and ecosystem support
- Applicant
- African-led research and implementation teams
- Discipline
- AI, Data & Digital
- Region
- Africa
- Posted
- May 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
The LINGUA Africa Open Call invites African-led projects that expand inclusive language AI through locally grounded data creation, model and tool development, and sectoral applications.
Who can apply
- Eligible applicants include non-profits, universities, research institutes, social enterprises, cultural institutions, and community-rooted organisations working on African language AI.
- Projects should demonstrate African leadership, meaningful community grounding, and a clear plan for responsible language technology work.
What it supports
- African language datasets, benchmarks, models, tools, and digital resources.
- Applied language AI for priority sectors and use cases where language inclusion can improve access, participation, and impact.
- Responsible ecosystem building around African languages, local expertise, and open or reusable resources.
Funding and duration
The call offers a support package that may include cash grants, Azure and Google Cloud compute credits, technical support, and ecosystem support according to the selected project track.
Application deadline
Application deadline: Jun 15, 2026
How to apply
Use the official Microsoft Research LINGUA Africa call page to review tracks, required materials, and submission instructions before the 15 June 2026 deadline.
Call details
About the opportunity
The LINGUA Africa Open Call invites African-led projects that expand inclusive language AI through locally grounded data creation, model and tool development, and sectoral applications.
Microsoft AI for Good Lab / Gates Foundation / Masakhane African Languages Hub lists this opportunity for African-led research and implementation teams, AI, Data & Digital, Africa.
This listing is written for researchers, students, universities, NGOs, research teams, policy professionals and academic institutions searching for AI, Data & Digital grants, fellowships, scholarships, conferences, workshops and funding opportunities in Africa contexts.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include non-profits, universities, research institutes, social enterprises, cultural institutions, and community-rooted organisations working on African language AI.
Projects should demonstrate African leadership, meaningful community grounding, and a clear plan for responsible language technology work.
Funding and benefits
The call offers a support package that may include cash grants, Azure and Google Cloud compute credits, technical support, and ecosystem support according to the selected project track.
Themes and supported activities
African language datasets, benchmarks, models, tools, and digital resources.
Applied language AI for priority sectors and use cases where language inclusion can improve access, participation, and impact.
Responsible ecosystem building around African languages, local expertise, and open or reusable resources.
Deadline and timeline
Application deadline: Application deadline: Jun 15, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Use the official Microsoft Research LINGUA Africa call page to review tracks, required materials, and submission instructions before the 15 June 2026 deadline.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.