Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), represented by our team (Dr Neema Nicodemus Lyimo, Dr Joseph Telemala, Dr. Kadeghe Fue, and Dr Silvia Materu, and the collaborator for the Morogoro Municipal Council, Dr Ndemile Kilatu) has secured first place in the initial phase of the AI for Equity Challenge: Climate Action, Gender, and Health. The competition promotes the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive progress on three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Climate Action (SDG 13).
By exacerbating inequalities, climate change hinders advancements in maternal and child health (SDG 3) and gender equality (SDG 5), disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations in the Global South. The challenge empowers organizations to create AI-driven solutions that tackle pressing challenges at the intersection of climate action, gender equality, and health equity, harnessing AI’s transformative potential to foster a fairer and more sustainable future.
The two-phase challenge, jointly organized by the International Research Centre in Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) under UNESCO, Zindi Africa, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), leverages advanced cloud technologies and data from the ACHE Project and Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative (ASDI). Prizes, AI solutions, and a support package worth $275,000 are awarded to the winners. SUA’s top placement was followed by strong performances from the United Nations Children’s Fund, Data Science Nigeria, and the Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade in Rio de Janeiro.
