Empowering Communities through AI-Driven Solutions

The Deep Learning Indaba 2025 Community Challenge is a collaborative, interdisciplinary initiative designed to bring together AI-driven communities from diverse fields such as NLP, Computer Vision, Quantum, Robotics, etc. applied to different domains such as Climate, Agriculture, etc. to tackle pressing real-world challenges we face on our continent. By leveraging deep learning and data science, communities will propose and develop innovative, impactful solutions that align with their mission and create sustainable change for their communities.

This initiative aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and problem-solving, empowering communities to showcase their expertise while strengthening AI ecosystems across Africa.

Apply now

Eligibility & Participation Guidelines

  • Team Composition: Each community must have at least four and at most five members contributing to the project.
  • Community Focus: The solution should align with the mission of your community and address a real-world African challenge.
  • Support: teams will be added to a group channel to communicate any issues they may have. A kickoff meeting will be organized to discuss the project expectations.
  • Presentation Format: Communities will submit their final projects in the form of slide presentations and detailed report covering:
    • Problem Statement: Define the issue and its significance.
    • Proposed Solution: Explain how AI can be leveraged to address the challenge.
    • Dataset or Survey Analysis: Provide supporting data and insights.
    • Recommendations & Implementation Plan: Outline steps for execution and sustainability.

We welcome both practical implementations and theoretical solutions in this competition.

Competition Overview & Timeline

Call for Participation (Deadline: April 14th 2025, 11pm GMT)

Communities are invited to submit their interests addressing challenges in the following domains but not limited to:

AI for Indigenous Language Inclusion

  • Example: Masakhane NLP (advancing AI for African languages).
  • Challenge: How AI can improve access to translation tools for underserved languages?

AI for Climate & Environmental Monitoring

  • Example: Africlimate (leveraging AI for climate adaptation).
  • Challenge: How can AI help African communities mitigate and respond to climate change?

AI for Healthcare & Well-being

  • Example: AI-driven community health initiatives (early disease detection, mental health support).
  • Challenge: How can AI improve public health systems in resource-limited areas?

AI for Ethical & Responsible Data Use

  • Example: Community-led ethical AI advocacy.
  • Challenge: How can communities promote fair and responsible AI adoption in Africa?

Example templates for the submission report and submission link will be shared with communities that register interest to participate.

Presentation and Reports Submission (June 27th, 2025)

All interested communities must submit their final presentations and reports by June 27th, 2025. The submission must include:

1.Slide Presentation (Maximum 10 slides)

  • Title Slide: Community name, project title, and team members.
  • Problem Statement: Clearly define the challenge being addressed.
  • Proposed Solution: Describe how AI is applied to solve the problem.
  • Dataset/Survey Analysis: Provide key insights from data used or the data collection process.
  • Implementation Plan: Steps for deploying and sustaining the solution.
  • Impact & Future Work: Provide metrics to measure the impact of the solution, expected outcomes and potential scalability.

2.Detailed Report (10-20 pages, PDF format)

  • Introduction: Overview of the problem and its significance.
  • Methodology: Explain the AI approach, dataset used/process for data collection, and technical details such as models etc.
  • Results & Findings: Present key outcomes and observations.
  • Challenges & Limitations: Address any constraints faced.
  • Recommendations & Next Steps: Provide a roadmap for future work.

3.Submission Process

  • All materials must be zipped into a single folder and submitted via the official submission portal (link to be provided).
  • File naming format: [CommunityName]_Indaba2025_Submission.zip
  • Deadline: June 27th, 2025, 11:59 PM UTC
  • Failure to submit by the deadline may result in disqualification from the competition.
  • Let me know if you want further refinements before I update the document!

Presentation & Judging (July 1st 2025)

Shortlisted projects will present their solutions in July. A panel of experts will evaluate projects based on:

  • Innovation & Creativity – Novelty and originality of the approach.
  • Impact & Relevance – Effectiveness in addressing a real-world challenge.
  • Community Engagement – Inclusivity and active involvement of community members.
  • Feasibility & Sustainability – Potential for real-world implementation and scalability.

 Awards & Knowledge Sharing (August 2025 at Deep Learning Indaba)

  • Winning communities will receive cash prizes (TBA) to support and scale their projects.
  • Winners will get an opportunity to present their solutions at the Community Session at Deep Learning Indaba 2025 (August 17-22, 2025).
  • The session will serve as a collaborative platform, enabling cross-community networking and future AI partnerships.

How Winning Communities Can Use their prize money to Grow Their Community

  • Host AI & Community Engagement Events – Organize hackathons, meetups, and training sessions.
  • Invest in Computing & Infrastructure – Purchase cloud credits, GPUs, or software licenses to enhance AI research.
  • Fund Scholarships & Capacity Building – Provide training opportunities, mentorship programs, and AI courses.
  • Expand Community Outreach & Advocacy – Build websites, launch AI awareness campaigns, and grow social media presence.
  • Collaborate with Industry & Academia – Partner with research institutions, startups, and policymakers to strengthen impact.

How to Apply?

Submit your community participation interest before April 14th 2025 11:00pm GMT by filling out this form.
Communities interested in applying should provide:

  • Community Name & Members (minimum four members).
  • Challenge Statement & Proposed Solution (How AI can address the issue).
  • Vision Alignment (How the solution aligns with the community’s mission).

This initiative is an opportunity to showcase AI’s role in transforming communities and creating a lasting impact across Africa.

Dates to Note

Submission of interest: April 14th 2025, 11:00pm GMT

Submission of final report with solution and presentation: June 27th, 2025

Mentorship and Onboarding Webinar: Dates will be announced in April, May and June.

Presentations and Judging: Starting July 1st 2025, exact dates TBD

Award Ceremony : 19th August 2025

For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at : communities@deeplearningindaba.com