Sunbird AI

Sunbird AI is a Ugandan organization that partners with African public sector and civil society organizations to develop practical AI systems to strengthen decision making, service delivery, and feedback loops between governments and citizens. It also works to strengthen public sector capacities and policies on the use of AI. Sunbird AI’s goals are to (a) create practical AI systems to help African organizations advance the Sustainable Development Goals; (b) develop an evidence base about the value and relevance of AI solutions for development; (c) collaborate with other African organizations in fostering an ecosystem of African-led development and governance of AI; and (d) strengthen Sunbird AI as it moves from startup to more established organization. This grant supports the Evidence-Informed Policymaking goal that governments in East and West Africa use data and evidence to improve policies, programs — and ultimately, lives. It also supports our program wide goal of strengthening African institutions to be leaders in the Hewlett Foundation’s fields of work.

Sunbird AI is a new nonprofit organization in Uganda focused on translating artificial intelligence and data technologies into usable products for societal good in Africa. This grant will support a start-up phase for Sunbird AI. The organization’s internal goals include a focus on organizational building and product development. External-facing goals focus on engagement with partners outside the technology space to determine how sophisticated data analysis can be a resource in informing policy change.