Nominations open for Women in AI Award

Deadline Date: April 21, 2025 

 Donor Name: Union for the Mediterranean

 Grant Size: Not Available

 Category: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

 Reference URL:https://ufmsecretariat.org/women-in-ai-award/

Nominations are now open for the Women in AI Award, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to celebrating and empowering women-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects across the MENA region.

Organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in partnership with allWomen and supported by the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ), this initiative highlights the contributions of women innovators who are shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). By recognizing trailblazing projects that address critical challenges and drive technological advancements, the awards seek to foster a more inclusive and dynamic AI ecosystem.

Objectives

• Celebrate Innovation: Recognize AI projects that serve as inspiration and role models for women in the AI field.
• Promote Inclusivity: Contribute to a more diverse and representative AI ecosystem by highlighting women-led initiatives that are driving technological advancements.
• Address Barriers: Raise awareness of the challenges women face in AI, including underrepresentation, limited access to resources, and restricted networking opportunities.
• Strengthen Connections: Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among women in AI to drive meaningful change and innovation in the industry.
• Empower Growth: Equip women innovators with the tools, resources, and networks needed to develop, implement, and scale their AI projects.
• Build Community: Create spaces for networking and mentorship, allowing women in AI to exchange experiences, share opportunities, and accelerate progress.

Categories

• Most Disruptive Innovation: This category celebrates pioneering AI initiatives that introduce significant technological advancements or revolutionary solutions. 
• Most Socially Impactful Project: This category highlights AI-driven projects that address critical social challenges and drive measurable positive change. 
• Most Sustainable AI Initiative: This category honors AI projects committed to sustainability and responsible development. 

Benefits

• Four finalists will be selected per category to travel to Istanbul, Türkiye, to participate in the Award Ceremony and a capacity-building workshop on May 27th. From these finalists, one winner will be chosen in each category. The winner will also have the opportunity to participate as a speaker in a panel discussion alongside a keynote speaker, who will be a woman leader in AI.
• Selected finalists will take part in a capacity-building workshop led by a distinguished woman leader in AI and will focus on foundational AI concepts, AI-powered business models, and practical business applications. Designed to be interactive, the workshop will foster dialogue, peer learning, and networking among participants. 
• Finalists will also take part in the Award Ceremony, which will include a keynote presentation, a panel discussion, and opportunities to network with other leaders in the AI ecosystem. These activities aim to create a strong network of women in AI, empowering participants to advance their initiatives, gain visibility, and explore new opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Eligible Countries

• Women originally from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Tunisia and Türkiye, including those residing abroad in one of the UfM member states.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are open to individuals and teams, with the requirement that when submitting a team project, one person must act as the representative in charge of the submission. This person will also represent the project if selected to participate in Istanbul.
• Entrepreneurs, startups, and individuals or teams employed by small, medium, or large companies are encouraged to apply. In the application form, you will be asked to provide details about the size of the company, if applicable.
• Participants can submit projects, products, or services that have already been implemented and are generating impact.
• Projects still in development are also eligible, as long as they have a clear vision, demonstrate tangible progress, and provide an overview of their next steps.

Evaluation Criteria

• Innovation & Originality: Technological advancement, uniqueness, and a clear value proposition.
• Impact & Relevance: Social, economic, environmental, or technological impact with measurable benefits.
• Feasibility & Scalability: Practicality, viability, and potential for expansion across markets.
• Sustainability: Long-term financial, operational, and environmental viability.
• Ethical Considerations: Addressing data privacy, biases, transparency, and responsible AI practices.
• Quality of Application: Clarity, completeness, and professionalism of submission materials.