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IDB Lab’s Challenge to Reduce Gender Bias and Discrimination with Artificial Intelligence

The innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank, IDB Lab, within the framework of the fAIr LAC initiative, has launched the open innovation challenge, “Gender and Artificial Intelligence”, to identify, pilot, and accelerate technological solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) that contribute to reducing bias and discrimination based on sex and gender.

We are looking to promote the full incorporation of women in the economy and society, especially those from vulnerable and marginalized communities. The call also aims to stimulate the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean and to promote the use of the 3S ethical self-assessment tool, designed by fAIr LAC to generate greater awareness, knowledge, and skills about reliable, bias-free, and socially responsible AI.

This challenge is aimed at startups with ready-to-implement models, small and medium-sized companies, civil society organizations, social enterprises, corporations, research centers, academic institutions, and entities with specialization and knowledge in artificial intelligence, among other actors. Proposed solutions should be novel, innovative in nature, and should be based on the development of AI as a means to reduce gaps, biases, and discrimination based on sex and gender. They should also promote social and economic inclusion of groups in poverty or vulnerable conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and be focused on one of the following areas:

  • Health and Social Welfare: Proposals should improve women’s access to health and/or enhance the development of new applications against gender-based violence, hate speech, and algorithmic gender bias in the detection of disease, depression, or mental health.
  • Education Talent and Employment: Proposals should enhance the participation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas, promote female employment and talent, and/or define unbiased personnel selection models.
  • Financial Inclusion: Proposals should use AI to identify barriers to women’s participation in the financial sphere and/or promote services that contribute to reducing the gender gap in the economic sphere.
  • Other Areas: Proposals may be submitted in the fields of agriculture and natural resources, essential infrastructure services, or climate change – all areas of action prioritized by IDB Lab.

The Challenge establishes two categories of participation, depending on where the legal registration of the participating initiative is located, which will allow obtaining financial support or honorable mention and the possibility of being included in IDB Lab’s network of global innovators to develop opportunities for knowledge exchange and disseminate the innovative solution.

This challenge will be open until August 31, 2022. The selected proposals will be announced during the month of November 2022.

The Gender and Artificial Intelligence challenge was made possible with the collaboration of Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Globant, Microsoft, NTT DATA FOUNDATION, Oracle, Red Hat, and SONDA.

For more information, click on the following link: https://convocatorias.iadb.org/en/bid-lab/gender-and-artificial-intelligence-challenge.

About IDB Lab

IDB Lab is the innovation laboratory of the IDB Group, the main source of financing and knowledge for development, focused on improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The purpose of IDB Lab is to drive innovation for inclusion in the region, mobilizing financing, knowledge, and connections to co-create solutions capable of transforming the lives of vulnerable populations due to economic, social, or environmental conditions. Since 1993, IDB Lab has approved more than $2 billion in projects developed in 26 LAC countries, including investments in more than 90 venture capital funds. www.bidlab.org

About IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region. www.iadb.org

About fAIr LAC

The fAIr LAC initiative seeks to ensure a responsible and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Latin America and the Caribbean. www.fairlac.iadb.org

Contacts

Manzano Guillen,Maria De Gador

BID Lab

gadorm@iadb.org
Manzano Guillen,Maria De Gador
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