Convocation in Gender and Artificial Intelligence

About the program

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through its IDB Lab innovation laboratory, has launched an open innovation call to identify, pilot and accelerate technological solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) that contribute, through the concept of algorithmic justice to reduce bias and discrimination on the basis of gender and gender. The purpose is to search for solutions that contribute to the incorporation of women into the economy and society, especially in groups in poverty or vulnerability.

Together with Climate Change, Gender Equality and Diversity are cross-pillars in the work of the IDB Lab, which is addressed through each of the priority vertical areas and through support for the consolidation of the region’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

The solutions proposed must:

• Promote gender equity through adequate data governance and mitigation of potential biases of the algorithms being used;
• Explore and leverage the potential of AI and automated learning to mitigate and/or address gender gaps, in the priority areas of the call;
• Promote social and economic inclusion of groups in poverty or vulnerability, with key indicators to measure outcomes, and
• Projecting a path of scalability or replicability, as well as financial sustainability.

Requirements

Areas:

• Health and Social welfare

• Education, Talent and Employment

• Financial Inclusion

Other vertical areas of BID Lab: BID Lab’s vertical areas are: (i) agriculture and natural capital; (ii) essential infrastructure services; (iii) financial inclusion; (iv) education, talent and employment; and (v) health. In addition, they are transversal axes: (i) climate change; and (ii) gender and diversity.

Awards

• Category A-Possible IDB Lab Financing: IDB Lab Financing (under the terms and conditions set out in section 06 of the call guidelines), and participation in special events and activities organized by IDB Lab and the regional networks of the IDB Group.

• Category B-Honorific Mention: Honorific Mention and participation in special events and activities organized by IDB Lab and the regional networks of the IDB Group.

Dates

*Dates are approximate and subject to possible changes

• July 7, 2022: Launch of the Call and Start of the Proposal Reception Period
• August 31, 2022 (midnight, Eastern Time, USA): Deadline to submit applications
• 1 to 16 September 2022: BID Group Preselection Stage (Phase I)

• November 2022: Pitch day to select winning proposals (Phase II)

• November 2022: Announcement of winning proposals

Elegibility Criteria

• Companies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), startups/enterprises, social impact organizations, civil society organizations (NGOs, foundations), universities that develop and implement AI-based market solutions and automated learning. These solutions should contribute to economic growth, social welfare, improvement in health social services, education, and contribute to reducing inequality in the region.