Does your organisation or research team meet the specific applicant requirements for this Training and scaling machine-learning models using Lacuna Fund open datasets to generate SDG-related outcomes funding opportunity?
African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), supported by Wellcome offers a defined funding route for Training and scaling machine-learning models using Lacuna Fund open datasets to generate SDG-related outcomes. This Africads guide explains the eligibility boundaries and how to evaluate whether investing in an application is worthwhile.
Funding at a glance
- Funding organisation: African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), supported by Wellcome
- Funding: Three awards of up to US$10,000 each; US$30,000 combined envelope
- Deadline: 13 November 2026
- Geographic eligibility: Global South low- and middle-income countries
- Applicant type: Eligible researchers and research teams working with open datasets and machine-learning models in Global South LMIC contexts
- Programme focus: Training and scaling machine-learning models using Lacuna Fund open datasets to generate SDG-related outcomes
Who is this opportunity for?
Eligible researchers and research teams working with open datasets and machine-learning models in Global South LMIC contexts
Geographic scope: Global South low- and middle-income countries. Organisations should first test the legal applicant criteria, geographic fit and funding instrument before beginning a proposal. If working through a consortium, establish which partner is allowed to submit, contract and receive funding.
Important restrictions and common mistakes
US$30,000 is the total envelope across three awards, not the amount available to one applicant. This is a researcher/team call, not unrestricted NGO funding.
A frequent application problem is describing an organisation’s general mission rather than answering the funding programme’s particular question. Do not confuse the funding pool with an individual award, the donor’s broad priorities with the current grant window, or the ability to participate as a partner with eligibility to apply as the lead.
Application route and preparation
Follow ACTS’s RFP instructions, demonstrate the dataset and SDG use case, specify feasible model-training steps, evaluation methods and six-month deliverables.
- Read the actual application terms and grant agreement for legal eligibility, cost recovery, matching funds and indirect-cost treatment.
- Write an evidence-based need statement linked to this call’s subject matter, target group and intervention.
- Build a realistic activity and budget plan showing owners, dependencies, milestones, indicators and a feasible implementation schedule.
- Check consent, privacy, safeguarding, ethics, responsible AI or environmental protections whenever the activity involves affected communities or sensitive data.
- Conduct an independent review of applicant eligibility, deadline/time zone, attachments, approvals and partner commitments before submitting.
Official funding source
Read the official African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), supported by Wellcome opportunity announcement and application instructions and follow the application portal or contact route specified there. Only official guidance should control final eligibility, grant amounts and submission decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Can any African NGO apply?
Not necessarily. Eligible researchers and research teams working with open datasets and machine-learning models in Global South LMIC contexts. Check the published legal and geographic conditions before using staff time on an application.
What amount can be requested?
Three awards of up to US$10,000 each; US$30,000 combined envelope. The applicant must respect the correct scheme or workstream ceiling.
What is the application deadline?
13 November 2026. The funder’s current portal is the final authority on closing times and any revisions.
What should be prepared first?
Review eligibility, organisational authority, financial policies, partner letters where needed, a coherent programme design, budget and supporting evidence.
Where should the application be submitted?
Use the official call and application path published at African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), supported by Wellcome; avoid third-party data collection or unofficial payment requests.
Practical next step
Use the Africads Funding Readiness Toolkit for an initial eligibility and evidence check. For more current opportunities, subscribe to Africads Grant News. Where proposal development is appropriate, GrantsWriterAI can help structure documents for human review against official funder requirements.
