Applications for International Development Research Center (IDRC)/Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) AI4D Africa Scholarships 2025 are open for International PhD Students.
The African Center for Technology Studies has received a grant from the IDRC and SIDA to support the training of PhD students.
This training to be supported is in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as well as the research work of Early Career Academics or Scholars (Early Career and Post-Doc) in AI & ML.
The research work within this program must be within AI and centred around STEM disciplines that attempt to address any of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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More About the AI4D Africa Scholarships
The following three beneficiary categories are the focus of the AI4D scholarships:
- Registered PhD students are in Category 1
- Early Career Academics, Category 3
- Post-doctoral Fellows, Category 4
Please read the details of each category below, click the link to the category of scholarship you wish to pursue and follow the subsequent application instructions.
Eligible Countries: Senegal, Angola, Mozambique, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Cameroon, Togo Madagascar, Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, Chad, Comoros, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Congo (Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali.
Category 1 – Registered PhD students
Candidates who are already enrolled in a PhD programme and have submitted their coursework and research ideas will receive an invitation. All universities that provide a PhD in artificial intelligence (or any of its variants) are eligible to apply.
For two years, eight in-country scholarships—four for men and four for women—will be awarded. The sole criterion for selection will be the calibre of the applications and ideas. Four will be admitted in Year 1 (Cohort 1), and four will be admitted in Year 2 (Cohort 2) after this call.
Eligibility
- All applicants must be registered in an AI study (machine learning, expert system, natural language processing, intelligent robotics etc.) under a supervisor and have finished coursework and a research proposal. The applicant must attach a letter of support from their supervisor and a copy of the PhD study admission letter.
- All applicants should have competent academic credentials and demonstrate motivation and commitment to pursue an academic career.
- All applicants should thoroughly know the language of instruction within their host university of choice (English, French or Portuguese).
- All applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of any sub-Saharan country.
Each successful student will receive partial AI4D Africa Scholarships of up to $ 27,000, distributed as shown below;
- Tuition fees for two years ($ 4000)
- Research activities ($ 17,000)
- Travelling support for the supervisors ($ 6,000)
Category 2 – Early Career Academics
8 Early Career The ECA scholarship will fund academics. Those ECA who can supervise PhD and MSc students would be the main focus of this.
Eligibility
- Each applicant must have held a PhD in AI and ML for the last 3 – 5 years as an application.
- All applicants should have competent academic credentials and demonstrate motivation and commitment to pursue an academic career.
- All applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of any sub-Saharan country.
Each successful ECA will receive a scholarship of US$ 68,000. This will cover:
- Tuition fees for one PhD student for two years (US$ 4000)
- Tuition fees for two MSc students (US$4000)
- Research costs (US$ 25,000)
- Research infrastructure (US$ 30,000)
- Travelling costs (US$ 5,000)
Funding would be for two years.
Category 3 – Post-doctoral researchers
It is believed that finding qualified female ECA may be difficult.
To increase the capacity for AI research and teaching in universities, the (AI4D) Africa Scholarships will additionally fund four post-doctoral positions for female candidates and those from underdeveloped nations.
Each successful post-doctoral applicant will receive four MSc slots from the programme.
Eligibility
- Each applicant must have held a PhD in AI and ML for not more than two years as an application.
- All applicants should have competent academic credentials and demonstrate motivation and commitment to pursue an academic career.
- All applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of any sub-Saharan country.
Each successful candidate will receive a scholarship of US$ 63,000:
- Tuition fee for 4 MSc students = US$ 8,000
- Research activities = US$ 20,000
- Research infrastructure = US$ 30000
- Traveling cost = US$ 5,000
Funding would be for two years.
Application Deadline: 17th February 2025
Conclusion
The IDRC/SIDA Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) Africa Scholarships are a significant project promoting AI growth in Africa.
The scholarships provide financing for master’s and PhD students to do AI research, giving them access to the resources they need to further their careers and advance AI in Africa.
The IDRC and SIDA support the creation of innovative technologies that can help with regional social and economic problems by funding AI research.
The awards show how crucial funding for research and innovation is for sustainable development. With their sustained assistance, SIDA and the IDRC will continue to promote the development of a vibrant and active AI research community in Africa.