Kumar Bahukhandi
Today, BFA Global, Caribou, and MSC – organizations whose work spans more than 150 countries – announced the launch of the Alliance for Inclusive AI, an open coalition committed to ensuring that the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI) expands opportunity. By 2030, the Alliance aims to deliver responsible, practical AI solutions to 100 million people and mobilize US$100 million in blended finance.
 |
Alliance for Inclusive AI
AI is set to reshape economies and public systems, yet new divisions are emerging: between countries that can afford the necessary technology and those that cannot; between enterprises able to adopt AI tools and those left out; and between people who can access these tools and those who cannot. Without leadership from emerging markets, AI will be built on assumptions that fail to reflect how most of the world lives and works.
Ajay Banga, World Bank Group President, cautioned that “Big AI will create a bigger disparity between the developed world and the developing world at the start. On the other hand, ‘small AI’ – local models delivered on local devices – is going to be amazingly productive.”
The Alliance is an open, collaborative, practitioner-led effort to bring inclusive AI into the workflows of financial inclusion, agriculture, climate resilience, and digital public services across the Global South.
Prateek Shrivastava, MD of BFA Global, said, “Only by joining forces to mobilize resources, we can bring meaningful AI infrastructure and solutions to hundreds of millions of people globally.”
Jessica Osborn, CEO of Caribou, said, “AI will reshape how people earn, learn, and access services. It will only deliver real impact when marginalized communities shape it. This Alliance ensures local actors build and use AI in ways that reflect their realities.”
Working at the intersection of global development and AI innovation, the Alliance’s work is organized around six pillars:
- Create foundational AI infrastructure tailored to emerging markets.
- Deliver practical, small-AI solutions that cater to the needs of the underserved.
- Partner with universities to develop local talent for responsible AI.
- Develop operational tools that work in low-resource, low-connectivity environments.
- Support governments, DFIs, regulators, and regional bodies to design and implement inclusive AI strategies.
- Create shared repositories of datasets, case studies, and toolkits.
Technology providers, DFIs, investors, governments, research institutions, and civil society organizations are invited to join.
Graham Wright, Co-Chair and GMD, MSC, warned, “Countries that lack digital infrastructure, skilled workforces, and supportive policy frameworks may find themselves further marginalized.”
BFA Global is a global impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private, and philanthropic organizations to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets.
Caribou is a global digital development consultancy that helps foundations, companies, and governments design and deliver responsible, inclusive digital systems. With expertise in data governance, digital identity, youth employment, and responsible technology, Caribou strengthens the policies, programs, and ecosystems that shape equitable digital futures.
MSC is a global inclusion consulting firm that works with governments, providers, and innovators to enable social, financial, and economic inclusion for everyone in the digital age. Its local teams in 70+ countries bring practical expertise across finance, technology, agriculture, and social protection. We help clients seize the digital opportunity, address the mass market, and future-proof operations.
