Masakhane African Languages Hub Announces Grant to Support Innovators and Researchers Building Language Technology Across the Continent

Exciting news for technologists, researchers, and language enthusiasts across Africa: applications are now open for the Masakhane African Languages Hub Grant.

This funding opportunity is designed to empower those developing technology, research, and digital tools that strengthen African languages in the digital world.

Whether you are building AI systems, creating datasets, or designing apps that elevate African languages online, this grant is a chance to get financial and technical support, connect with a community of experts, and showcase your work to a broader audience.

Why This Grant Matters

Millions of people speak African languages, yet these languages remain underrepresented in digital platforms, AI tools, and natural language processing (NLP) technologies.

This digital gap restricts access to education, services, information, and economic opportunities for speakers of African languages.

The Masakhane Hub Grant seeks to change that by supporting projects that bring African languages to the forefront of technology.

From speech recognition tools and translation models to educational resources and AI systems, the goal is to preserve linguistic heritage while making technology more inclusive and accessible.

Who Can Apply

This grant is open to anyone with a project focused on African language technology.

Ideal applicants include:

• Researchers and academics working in computational linguistics, AI, or African language studies

• Tech developers and engineers building applications or tools that integrate African languages

• Startups and nonprofits creating datasets, learning apps, or educational resources

• Collaborative teams combining language experts, community members, and technologists

Geographic location is not a barrier, but projects must clearly demonstrate relevance to African languages and the communities that speak them.

What the Grant Offers

Selected applicants can expect a combination of financial, technical, and community support:

• Project Funding: Money to help develop, scale, or refine language tools, datasets, or research outputs.

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• Technical Resources: Access to computational infrastructure, datasets, and development support if required.

• Community & Collaboration: Opportunities to connect with a pan-African network of language technology researchers, developers, and advocates.

• Visibility & Showcase: Potential exposure on Masakhane platforms, publications, and community events, which can help attract further partnerships and recognition.

Types of Projects Supported

The Masakhane Hub Grant particularly encourages projects in areas such as:

• Machine translation and cross-lingual tools for African languages

• Speech and voice processing technologies in local languages

• Datasets and corpora for under-resourced languages

• Educational technologies that improve literacy and language learning

• Research that advances understanding of African language technologies

Projects demonstrating real community impact, sustainability, and technical feasibility tend to stand out during the selection process.

How to Apply

Applying is straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Visit the official grant page: Masakhane Hub Grants

2. Review eligibility criteria and grant guidelines.

3. Prepare a project summary including:

   • Description of your idea or technology

   • Objectives, target languages, and communities served

   • Technical approach and tools required

   • Expected outcomes and impact

4. Complete the online application form accurately.

5. Submit your application before the deadline listed on the website.

Applicants should make sure their proposals reflect both technical strength and community relevance, showing how their work will meaningfully support African languages in the digital space.

The Bigger Picture

The Masakhane African Languages Hub Grant isn’t just about funding—it’s about creating a network of innovators and amplifying African voices in technology.

For anyone passionate about building tools, research, or resources that put African languages on the digital map, this is a unique opportunity to make a real difference.