Kwanele – Bringing Women Justice is the winner of a #GrandChallengesgrant – an initiative fostering innovation to solve pressing global health and development problems and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation!
Leonora Tima, CEO of Kwanele – Bringing Women Justice will pursue an innovative global health and development research project focused on Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use, titled “ChatGBV”.
Kwanele – Bringing Women Justice is currently building the Kwanele Chat Bot, named “ChatGBV”, an innovative AI-powered tool designed to provide critical support and guidance to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). ChatGBV is more than just an AI-powered bot; it’s a lifeline that bridges the gap between technology and compassion. By utilizing GPT technology, we are creating a tool that understands, supports, and guides survivors on their path to healing. The chatbot simplifies access to crucial information, resources, and assistance for survivors navigating the justice system.
Building a data set for Kwanele involves collecting and organizing a comprehensive set of data related to GBV incidents, survivor experiences, and language survivors use when looking for help and access to justice. This data set is instrumental in informing the development and training of the Chat Bot, ensuring it responds accurately and empathetically to survivors’ queries and needs. By using real-life experiences and feedback from focus groups and co-creation sessions, Kwanele ensures the Chat Bot remains responsive to the unique challenges faced by survivors.
Kwanele’s project is one of nearly 50 Grand Challenges Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use grants announced by the Gates Foundation to support LMICs in harnessing AI’s power for good and to solve the urgent need for LMIC participation in the co-creation process of this technology as it rapidly evolves. The project’s findings will contribute to building an evidence base for testing AI large language models (LLMs) that can fill wide gaps in access and equitable use of these tools. Each of these grants represents an opportunity to solve or mitigate a real challenge experienced by communities, researchers and/or governments in low- and middle-income countries.
To receive funding, Leonora Tima and other Grand Challenges winners submitted their concepts which outlined their bold idea in response to the Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use request for proposals. More than 1,300 proposals were submitted from around the world!
Thank you to Women’s Voice and Choice, Mozilla, AmplifyChange and Gender Links – as they were all instrumental in our journey.
We are so excited to show you the development of our #ChatGPT bot over the next few months!