Research
MCAAI advances applied AI research across language access, disability inclusion, data governance, and ethical technologies that support African communities. Our work connects research, field implementation, partnerships, and open publication to create practical impact.
Our research areas
Explore MCAAI’s research agenda across language access, disability inclusion, data governance, and applied AI innovation for African communities.
Publications
Read peer-reviewed papers, reports, and research outputs produced by MCAAI teams and partners across the African AI ecosystem.
Collaborations
Learn about the collaborative partnerships and coordination frameworks shaping inclusive, community-led AI innovation across Africa.
Research agenda
Focus areas
Nlp Low_resource
NLP for low resourced Languages
Building state-of-the-art NLP models and speech corpora for Dholuo, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Somali — ensuring that speakers of indigenous Kenyan languages are full participants in the digital age.
Disability Inclusion
Disability Inclusion & Assistive Technology
Developing AI-powered assistive technologies — including the AI4KSL sign language avatar system and the continent-wide HAIDI initiative — to ensure that persons with disabilities are full beneficiaries of Africa's AI revolution.
Data Governance
Equitable Data Governance
Pioneering new models of data ownership that protect African communities' linguistic heritage while enabling global scientific collaboration — led by the world's first practical implementation of the NOODL open data framework.
Applied Ai
Applied AI for Agriculture & Healthcare
Building practical, deployable AI tools that empower smallholder farmers and improve healthcare outcomes in underserved communities across Kenya — grounded in the everyday realities of the people we serve.
Why it matters
Research that supports real-world inclusion and public benefit
Our interdisciplinary work combines language technology, data governance, assistive AI, and policy engagement to ensure technology is not only innovative, but also accountable, equitable, and grounded in African realities.