By Emmanuel Ogbodo
Meta has unveiled the Llama 3.1 Impact Grants, providing a funding pool of up to $2 million to support AI-driven startups globally, with a particular emphasis on Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey. Announced on Tuesday, this initiative seeks proposals from companies using Meta’s Llama AI to tackle social issues within their communities.
The program will prioritise applications that focus on economic development, scientific innovation, public service, and other impactful areas. Successful applicants could receive up to $500,000, with the winners to be announced early next year.
Eligibility for the Grant Program requires organisations to be in countries where participation is legally permitted and to meet several criteria: they must not be individuals or sole proprietorships, must have been established before August 5, 2023, and be in good standing under their jurisdiction’s laws. They also need the legal right to participate without violating agreements with third parties and must appoint an authorised representative (the “Applicant”) who is an organisation employee or affiliate, at least 18 years old, and of legal age in their jurisdiction.
The application window for the Llama 3.1 Impact Grants is open from Monday, August 5, 2024, to Friday, November 22, 2024. Meta aims to enhance the use of AI for societal advancement, as highlighted by Kojo Boakye, Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey. Boakye stated, “We’re inspired by the diverse projects we’ve seen developers undertake around the world to positively impact their communities by building with Llama.
“We believe AI has more potential than any other modern technology to increase human productivity, creativity, and quality of life—and to accelerate economic growth while unlocking progress in medical and scientific research.
“The Llama 3.1 Impact Grants program presents an opportunity to further empower organisations to leverage AI for social good and to drive meaningful change,” Boakye said.
Meta will facilitate prospective applicants with regional events, including virtual events, in-person hackathons, workshops, and training sessions. These will take place in regions such as Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Latin America, North America, Pakistan, Singapore, Sub-Saharan Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, and Vietnam. These sessions aim to provide technical guidance and mentorship, fostering the development of impactful Llama 3.1 applications in various local contexts. Organisations participating in these events may also qualify for specialised awards of up to $100,000.
