COVID-19 Global South Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Program

Deadline: 28-Jun-20

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) are contributing up to CA$10 million towards a COVID-19 Global South Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Program.

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The Program aims to support multidisciplinary research to deepen understanding of how to develop and scale responsible (inclusive, rights-based, ethical, and sustainable) evidence-based artificial intelligence (AI) and data science approaches that support COVID-19 response and recovery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The purpose of this call is to support research to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science that improves responses to COVID and future pandemics in low and middle-income countries.The multi-disciplinary research funded through the call should aim to:

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Deepen understanding of how to develop and scale responsible, evidence-based and proven AI and data science approaches that support COVID-19 response and recovery in developing countries;
Inform policies and implementation, both organizationally and nationally, that support and build trust in AI and data science responses to epidemics, and mitigate potential social and economic harms;
Strengthen research capacity and the capacity of health systems in developing countries to respond to epidemics through the use of AI and data science techniques.
Objectives

Support multi-disciplinary research on how to develop and scale responsible and evidence-based AI and data science approaches that support COVID-19 response and recovery in developing countries, and to ensure that those responses are gender responsive and are culturally appropriate, community specific and based on local needs and contexts;
Inform policies, both organizationally and nationally, that support and build trust in AI and data science responses to epidemics and that mitigate potential harms;
Strengthen the capacity of health systems in developing countries to respond to epidemics through the use of AI and data science techniques.
Thematic Areas

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Forecasting transmissions and reducing spread through policy and public health interventions
Optimizing public health system responses for patient diagnosis, care and management
Mobilizing AI and data science to understand and support gender inclusive COVID action
Strengthening data systems and information sharing about COVID-19
Supporting transparent and responsible AI, data and digital rights governance around COVID-19 and pandemic responses
Funding Information

IDRC and Sida will contribute up to CAD $10 million towards this COVID-19 Global South AI and Data Innovation Program, and project funds will be disbursed and administered by IDRC on behalf of the partnership;
Projects should be between CAD $500,000 (for individual applicants) up to CAD $1,250,000 (for larger research consortia) for two years (2020-2022);
The number of supported projects will depend on the number, quality, review and ranking of eligible proposals by the review process.
Eligibility Criteria

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Research consortia and individual organizations may apply. For the purposes of this call, research consortia are multi-disciplinary research collaborations and networks made up of multiple organizations. Preference in selection will be given to research consortia who demonstrate an ability to work across different disciplines and directly with governments (these consortia may include partners in the Global North).
Individual organizations must be from Low- and Middle-Income countries.
Eligible applicants are legal entities, such as accredited universities, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, or government-funded research organizations. Primary applicants must be a financially stable legal entity that can receive funds in a timely manner, and not be subject to lengthy approvals or country clearance. Private sector organizations may apply, although commercial applications and innovations are not eligible for funding.
Consortia should identify a primary applicant institution who will receive and administer the funds as IDRC will not contract directly with additional organizations. Consortia partners, in addition to those organizations listed above, may also include governments, multi-national organizations, and private sector organizations. The involvement and role(s) of consortia partners must be clearly articulated in the proposal and budget. Regardless of the institutional lead, please note that more than 50% of organizations in a research consortium should be from low- and middle-income countries.
All organizations will need to demonstrate how they can conduct research design, planning and execution in accordance to local laws and public health guidelines, including social distancing.
For more information, visit https://www.idrc.ca/en/funding/covid-19-global-south-artificial-intelligence-and-data-innovation-program