The Africa Innovation Mradi Research Grants aim to support research led by social justice communities looking at the intersections between AI and social justice in Southern and Eastern Africa. This could be an in depth look at AI in relation to human rights, economic justice, racial justice, community justice, gender justice, disability justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, or environmental justice.
Do you have an idea for how to study the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on social justice communities in East and Southern Africa?
With the use of artificial intelligence becoming more pervasive worldwide, Mozilla is concerned with how people will be both positively and negatively impacted. We believe that who develops AI and how AI is being deployed is of particular importance for a just society, but we also realize that people working for different social causes don’t necessarily see their concerns reflected in initiatives by Mozilla or other technology or digital policy organizations.
So how does AI currently surface as an area of interest or concern in different communities? We wish to support research led by communities committed to social justice that will identify and analyze the intersections between AI and their respective priorities in Southern and Eastern Africa. This could be an in depth look at AI in relation to human rights, economic justice, racial justice, community justice, gender justice, disability justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental justice, or another issue of your choosing. Tell us which intersection you will study and why. You do not need to be an expert on technology, internet governance, or digital rights to apply.
Plain text application pack: To support screen readers or places with low bandwidth and connectivity, you can download the application pack in plain text here.
What research questions are we interested in exploring?
Our key questions include:
- How does the community you propose to study understand and refer to AI?
- How is the community coming to terms with its use of AI?
- Does AI shift power and meet their needs?
- Does AI or digital technology surface as a topic people can mobilize and organize around?
- What would be opportunities to engage with technology builders or regulators on local concerns?
- In what ways do data collection and machine learning present a local threat or opportunity for your community of focus?
- How can the work of communities at the intersections be supported and strengthened?
Your proposal should outline a methodology that explains how you would go about answering some or all of these questions. You are free to determine the format and language for publishing the results of your research. Whether it be written or in some other medium, we expect that either all or part of the research be openly accessible online. You should also include a description of how you intend to share the findings with all critical stakeholders.
As part of the final grant report, you will be asked to submit a (non-public) written summary in English of your research process and outputs.
What do we mean by AI?
We use AI as a term to describe a wide range of technologies including machine learning and automation that are common in both public and private contexts.
Examples of how AI is impacting communities can range from how workers’ rights are affected by automation, to the manner in which social media companies recommend or censor information about a certain community. Or of how voice recognition apps may positively impact the rights of differently-abled citizens to access public services, while other communities may be negatively impacted by biometric facial recognition or fingerprinting for authentication. Privacy, surveillance and the collection (or extraction) of personal or community data is a recurring theme, since AI is usually trained or used in conjunction with data. Often, harms are swept under the rug by companies and governments.
These are some of the examples of what we mean by the impact AI can have on communities, but should not be understood as a literal menu of eligible topics for a proposal. What matters to the community you propose to study?
Why social justice?
As a technology focused organization, Mozilla is concerned about how technology impacts people, either when real life oppression, marginalization, and injustices are replicated online, or when technology is used to shift power to people. These are human questions, where tech solutions will not suffice. That’s why we consider movement building as an integral part of creating social change in the world. Hence, the need to understand better if, where and how social justice issues and AI intersect.
Who should apply?
For this grant opportunity, we are primarily interested in collaborating with individuals, networks, and self-organized groups and organizations that are based in or legally operate on the African continent, that we have not worked with before. So, do forward this to your wider network if that’s you.
You should have clarity on, and a direct connection to, the community you propose to study. Perhaps this means that you have helped lead communities or that you are a social scientist. Your application should highlight what experience you believe qualifies you.
You should be a confident writer or researcher with previous experience of sharing research. However, this can be in any type of publication, either professional, academic, or activist. This can include journals, newspapers, blogs, websites, etc, in any language.
Review and Selection
Grantees will be selected based on a review of applications by Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Mradi and Insights (research) teams.
The criteria for reviewing applications will consider the following:
- Geographic location and work focus of applicants
- Applicant experience or collaboration with a partner with the experience of producing AI and digital technology research in Africa
- Applicant familiarity with national or regional contexts, clear articulation of social justice issue, and selected research priority
- Clearly specified social group or community of focus and a plan of engagement with them around the selected issue
- Clearly defined methodology and impact, research plan, and budget
Only those projects that meet the grant criteria for this funding opportunity will be reviewed. All proposed grant decisions are subject to a legal review to confirm the applicant’s eligibility.
Applicants must meet the following requirements
- Be individuals, networks, and/or not for profit organizations that are based in Africa
- Be legally able to receive funds in the form of grants from the Mozilla Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
- Be focused on research related to social justice and AI, and/or digital technology in Africa
We are also interested in reaching individuals, networks, and/or organizations with whom we have not previously worked.
At least six research grants, that will range from $5,000 to $10,000 USD, will be made. Final selection of applicants and grants amounts are at the discretion of the Mozilla staff.
About Mozilla
Mozilla exists to protect the internet as a global public resource, open and accessible to all. As a critical part of this mission, the Mozilla Foundation has increasingly focused on the transparency and accountability of artificial intelligence in consumer technology. Through fellowships and awards, we support innovative leaders in the realms of research, policy and technology for more trustworthy AI and a healthier internet.
What is the Africa Innovation Mradi?
Mozilla’s Africa Innovation Mradi incorporates a regional focus on the development and governance of technologies — and the impact each has on social justice issues. We define movement building as strengthening partnerships with movement actors to deepen collaboration at the places where our concerns converge. This entails multidisciplinary collaboration designed to address the needs surfaced by the lived experiences of Africans.
We seek to do this by building ‘with’ and not ‘for’ African organizations and by cultivating a strong ecosystem of allies in the region to improve internet health and address major issues of African social movements and of the digital world. We commit to this by centering local leadership and expertise at the core of our efforts and facilitating connection and access to resources to amplify and sustain initiatives.
Africa Innovation Mradi research grants seek to increase broader understanding along three key issue areas: technological developments, human rights and governance. Ultimately, research supported under the Africa Mradi grants should encourage the adoption of technologies that center communities (particularly marginalized groups), uplift informed use (that is people having agency and control), and contribute to policy and regulatory trends that promote Trustworthy AI.
Have questions?
Please check out our awards FAQs
For questions not answered there, or for assistance using Fluxx to submit your application, please email [email protected]
Questions specific to this funding opportunity can be directed to Senior Program Officer, Koliwe Majama, on the email [email protected].