Call for concept notes: Socio-economic impacts of artificial intelligence in Africa

• Short CVs of the principal investigator and team members
• Signed letters of commitment from each applicant organization
• Legal registration documents
• High-level budget in local currency
• Optional supporting documents such as consortium letters, references, or workplans

Who is eligible?

• Research institutions
• Universities and public university centres
• Think tanks and network secretariats
• Associations, civil society organizations, and non-profits
• Private sector organizations

Who is not eligible

• Individuals, including students
• UN agencies as lead applicants
• Government ministries and government agencies
• Regional or national offices of international organizations as lead applicants

Eligible expenses

• Research-related project costs
• Reasonable indirect costs up to 13% of the recipient-administered grant value
• Knowledge sharing and dissemination costs
• Data management plan implementation costs
• Travel costs for network and coordination activities

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Basic operating expenses
• Endowments
• Facilities for schools, colleges, universities, or human services organizations
• Individual academic studies or tuition, including MA and PhD programs
• Profit-making activities

Eligible geographic areas

• Sub-Saharan African low- and middle-income countries

• Relevance of the project: 30%
• Quality and rigour of the research: 25%
• Dissemination and uptake strategy: 10%
• Team composition and strength: 15%
• Feasibility: 10%
• Budget: 10%

• Step 1: Review the call requirements
  • Read the call details and eligibility criteria carefully.
  • Prepare the concept note according to the required sections.
• Step 2: Prepare supporting materials
  • Gather the required CVs, letters of commitment, legal registration, and budget information.
  • Complete the budget using IDRC’s template.
• Step 3: Submit online
  • Log in to SurveyMonkey Apply or create an account.
  • Complete the application form and upload the required documents.
  • Submit before the deadline.
• Step 4: Await confirmation and review
  • Keep the acknowledgement of receipt for your records.
  • If shortlisted, prepare to submit a full proposal.

• Applications are screened for eligibility first.
• Shortlisted concept notes are reviewed by an internal IDRC committee.
• Only shortlisted teams are invited to submit full proposals.
• Selected applicants must sign IDRC’s standard Grant Agreement before funding is issued.
• Final funding is subject to country approval where required and to IDRC’s institutional assessment.

• Only shortlisted teams will be invited to submit a full proposal.
• Successful applicants must sign IDRC’s standard Grant Agreement.
• Applicants must comply with IDRC’s open access and data management requirements.
• Project teams will participate in AI4D joint learning and coordination activities.