Meta Launches Llama Impact Grant for Sub-Saharan Africa
Meta, in partnership with Data Science Africa, has introduced the Llama Impact Grant, a new initiative to support startups and researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The grant, part of Meta’s global Llama Impact Grants program, will fund innovative projects using Meta’s open-source large language model, Llama, to address the region’s unique challenges.
AI has the potential to drive productivity, creativity, and economic growth, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, and scientific research. Meta is inviting proposals from individuals and organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop AI-driven solutions leveraging Llama.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be assessed based on:
1. A clear use case for Llama.
2. A well-defined path to impact with a large user base.
3. Team expertise and composition.
4. Ethical considerations in product development.
5. A realistic budget and timeline.
The winning proposal will receive $20,000 to bring the project to life. Applications must be submitted via the online portal by April 18, 2025.
The Llama Impact Grant is part of Meta’s global initiative launched in October 2023, which has received over 800 applications from 90+ countries. Notable projects include:
Digital Green’s Farmer Chat, Jacaranda Health’s PROMPTS, a digital health tool offering SMS-based maternal and newborn health support in Kenya, Ghana, and Eswatini.
