Advancing SDG Outcomes Through the Utilization of Lacuna Fund’s Open Datasets

Lacuna Fund supports the creation, expansion, and maintenance of datasets that enable robust and equitable application of machine learning (ML) tools of high social value in low- and middle-income contexts globally. To date, Lacuna Fund has accumulated over 67 open datasets spanning all Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) priority areas across the Global South. This call for proposals is designed to address a recognized gap: the original grants focused on dataset creation and there is a need for additional funds to support the uptake and use of these resources. The purpose of this RFP is therefore to support researchers and research teams in training new ML models, scaling existing models, or supporting ML and AI applications or tools using datasets already created with support from Lacuna Fund. By doing so, the call seeks to unlock the latent value of existing data sets and translate them into tangible, equitable outcomes across the full range of SDG priority areas. This call is open to applicants working in any SDG domain represented in the Lacuna Fund dataset repository.

Proposals may be submitted in any SDG domain for which relevant datasets exist in the Lacuna Fund repository. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Lacuna Fund dataset catalogue (Fair Forward – Open Data & Use Cases) and GIZ Fairforward catalogue (https://fair-forward.github.io/datasets?view=lacuna) prior to developing their proposals to identify datasets relevant to their area of work. Across all domains, gender-responsiveness and the inclusion of key vulnerable groups are required. This includes attention to intersecting factors such as gender, disability, age, socio-economic status, access to basic services, and exposure to other risks such as climate risk.