Google has announced $5.8 million in Google.org funding to support foundational AI and cybersecurity training this year across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The $5.8 million is in addition to the $20 million of Google.org support for organizations helping Africans develop digital skills announced earlier. Grow with Google, which is separate from Google.org, trained over 6.5 million people across Africa in 2023 alone in digital skills to help them build their career or business.
According to Matt Brittin, the President of Google in EMEA: “AI could contribute $30 billion to the economy of sub-saharan Africa. But for this to be a meaningful change, everyone needs to be included. The $5.8 million announced today will help bring people, businesses and nonprofits along to take part in harnessing technology for good.”
As part of the funding, Data Scientists Network Foundation will be provided with a $1.5 million grant to train unemployed and at risk Nigerians in foundational digital and tech training in data and AI. Nelson Mandela University and other universities will participate in the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program, which includes $500,000 in grant support alongside course content and extensive training. The goal is to help 200 students learn hands-on cybersecurity skills while also supporting the digital defenses of 250 local organizations.
Raspberry Pi Foundation, who will provide $300,000 to the Young Scientists Kenya and Data Scientists Network Foundation to roll out AI literacy education for Kenyan and Nigerian youth.
The $5.8 million funding will help organizations to create AI tools that will benefit not only communities across Africa, but across the globe. Google.org also provided funding to help organizations supporting local businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs. Through the Google AI Impact Challenge, Google.org funded the AirQo project – which uses AI to measure and tackle air pollution across Africa.
In 2018, Google opened an AI Research Centre in Accra, Ghana – and in 2022, it announced a Product Development Center in Nairobi, Kenya. In both offices, teams use the power of AI to solve problems across the continent and around the world.