Deadline Date: November 22, 2025
CFI – Canal France International has launched the Digital Solutions Competition for Central Asia to promote artificial intelligence-based innovations that improve access, sharing, and protection of information for vulnerable groups in society.
The competition focuses on promoting artificial intelligence-based solutions that will help improve access, sharing and protection of information for vulnerable groups in society, help independent media operating in difficult conditions, and improve access to reliable information for vulnerable communities in Central Asia. It supports projects that develop practical digital tools such as AI-powered content moderation systems, hate speech recognition technologies, and automatic translation into local languages. The main focus of the competition is inclusivity, practical results and collaboration to demonstrate how technology can protect human rights and freedom of information.
The competition offers grants ranging from €20,000 to €60,000 to support innovative projects that bring together technology, journalism, and civil society to create meaningful impact and strengthen media resilience. The planned duration of the projects to be implemented may be no less than six (6) months and no more than twenty-four (24) months.
Eligible applicants must be legally registered entities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Tajikistan, directly responsible for preparing and managing their proposed project. Proposals must clearly integrate artificial intelligence or digital innovation and aim to improve access, sharing, or protection of information for vulnerable groups.
Each project must result in a specific digital prototype, tool, or platform and demonstrate the ability to reach at least the beta stage during the grant period. All initiatives must comply with ethical standards including human rights, gender equality, data privacy, and non-discrimination.
For more information, visit CFI.
