Artificial intelligence and development projects: A case study in funding mechanisms to optimise research excellence in sub-Saharan Africa

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been attracting increased attention from researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers on all continents. Innovative national and international development collaboration mechanisms, such as micro-funding and social impact bonds, are being tested, refined and implemented to assist AI researchers, contribute to scientific excellence and scale to market. This essay looks at emerging networks of excellence in the Global South, particularly AI4D Africa. It examines how bottom-approach, small-scale investments resulted in significant research on different scientific and non-scientific, engineering and educational topics, including a profile of African languages.