Google has announced a $37 million AI-focused investment package aimed at accelerating innovation, research, and digital inclusion across Africa.
The funding comprising both new and previously unannounced commitments will support AI research, language development, food security, and digital skills training in key countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
A major component of the initiative is the AI Collaborative for Food Security, a multi-partner program backed by $25 million from Google.org. The project will bring together researchers and nonprofits to build AI tools that improve hunger forecasting, crop resilience, and tailored guidance for smallholder farmers, with the goal of strengthening Africa’s food systems against climate and economic shocks.
In a push to make digital content more accessible in native African languages, Google is investing $3 million in the Masakhane Research Foundation to support the development of machine translation, speech tools, and high-quality datasets for over 40 African languages.
The tech company is also launching a new initiative to fund AI-driven startups focused on solving real-world problems in healthcare, agriculture, and education. The program will combine philanthropic capital, venture funding, and Google’s technical expertise to support over 100 early-stage ventures, offering mentorship and resources for responsible AI development.
To support talent development, Google will open an AI Community Center in Accra, its first on the continent. The center will offer training, workshops, and events centered on AI literacy, community tech, social impact, and the arts—fostering collaboration among developers, students, and creators.
In addition, Google is providing 100,000 scholarships for students in Ghana to pursue Google Career Certificates in AI Essentials, Prompting, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. A further $7 million will go toward AI education efforts across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana.
To strengthen academic research, Google.org is awarding two $1 million grants—one to the University of Pretoria’s African Institute for Data Science and AI (AfriDSAI), and another to the Wits MIND Institute in South Africa to support AI research and postgraduate training.
Commenting on the initiatives, James Manyika, senior vice president for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society at Google, said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to supporting African innovation, stating, “Africa is home to some of the most important and inspiring work in AI today.”
Yossi Matias, vice president of Engineering and Research at Google, added: “This new wave of support reflects our belief in the talent, creativity, and ingenuity across the continent. By building with local communities and institutions, we’re supporting solutions that are rooted in Africa’s realities and built for global impact.”
The move builds on Google’s existing work in AI across the continent, including maternal health projects, wildfire alerts, and language model development in regional hubs like Accra and Nairobi.
