Introduction
The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund represents a collaboration between British and Kenyan institutions to advance artificial intelligence capabilities whilst prioritising safety, ethics, and inclusive development. Established in September 2024 with funding from the UK AID, this initiative brings together leading institutions from both countries to address pressing developmental challenges through responsible AI innovation.
Programme Structure
The Fund operates through a dual mechanism of direct institutional partnerships and competitive project funding. This approach ensures both structured collaboration between established organisations and opportunities for innovative proposals from a broader range of participants. The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the Alan Turing Institute (ATI) serve as implementing partners, providing technical oversight and strategic direction.
Strategic Focus
Projects supported through this Fund concentrate on three primary areas:
- Applied AI Research with tangible development impacts
- AI Ethics and Standards development
- AI Safety frameworks and implementations
Expected outcomes from of the supported projects are :
- Equitable partnership between Kenyan and British institutions
- Sustainable implementation pathways
- Integration of local context and solutions
- Multidisciplinary approaches
- Inclusion of diverse perspectives and participants
Funder
- UK International Development
Partners
- Allan Turing Institute
- Government of Kenya
- UK International Development
- KICTANet
