FCDO, Humanitarian action and responsible artificial intelligence (AI), Request for Applications, Due: Jan 13, 2025

[opencode4good]

Humanitarian action and responsible artificial intelligence (AI)

• Date Posted: Nov 19, 2024
• Deadline: Jan 13, 2025
• Value of funding: £10,001 to £100,000
• Funding Institution(s): Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Brief Description: The FCDO invites proposals by 13 January 2025 to conduct research on how humanitarian actors can address the risks associated with AI systems so they can be used responsibly.
  • Funding for this work has been allocated equally across the 24/25 and 25/26 financial years, while there may be flexibility, we expect an inception meeting to take place and work to begin in the current financial year before 05/04/2025. We expect the proposal for this funding to have a completion date no later than 01/01/2026.
• Link: https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding/humanitarian-action-and-responsible-artificial-intelligence-ai

Potential Relevance to NumFOCUS Projects

1. AI and Responsible Innovation:

• NumFOCUS projects like PyData, scikit-learn, and TensorFlow promote tools and frameworks that often intersect with AI applications.
• Developing ethical and responsible frameworks for AI in humanitarian contexts resonates with NumFOCUS's mission to support open source scientific computing and its responsible deployment.

2. Humanitarian Impact:

• Many NumFOCUS-sponsored projects can be leveraged in humanitarian efforts, such as using predictive modeling for disaster response or natural language processing for analyzing crisis communications.

3. Cross-sector Collaboration:

• The call emphasizes collaboration with implementers, tech organizations, donors, and affected populations. NumFOCUS projects have a strong history of interdisciplinary collaboration, making them well-positioned to convene diverse stakeholders.

Strategic Fit

• Research and Standards Development: NumFOCUS projects could contribute expertise in open science practices and governance, aiding in mapping safety approaches, regulatory requirements, and risk evaluations for AI tools.
• Framework Design: Many tools and libraries supported by NumFOCUS can be adapted or developed to align with the proposed responsible AI framework.
• Dissemination of Tools: NumFOCUS’s global reach and community engagement can support the dissemination of findings and tools, ensuring widespread adoption of the framework.

Eligibility and Funding

• NumFOCUS qualifies as a non-profit organization and can lead or collaborate on this project, potentially partnering with other UK-based NGOs or educational institutions.
• The funding range (£10,001 to £100,000) could be used to pilot or enhance tools for responsible AI while building institutional knowledge in humanitarian applications.
• Opportunity to Enhance Mission Impact

This project is an opportunity for NumFOCUS Projects to:

• Expand into the humanitarian and social impact sectors.
• Showcase its commitment to ethical and impactful AI.
• Build new partnerships with governments, NGOs, and research institutions in the UK and beyond.

Next Steps

• Attend the market engagement session on 29 November 2024 to explore partnerships and understand FCDO’s priorities.
• Identify NumFOCUS projects or collaborators with relevant expertise in AI, ethics, and humanitarian technology.
• Develop a proposal highlighting NumFOCUS’s role in advancing responsible AI through its open-source ecosystem.