African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), social media technology company Meta and professional services company Deloitte have launched ALKALI AI – an AI-driven support platform designed to empower small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) across Africa.

The platform uses AI technologies to provide SMMEs with tools to navigate markets, overcome obstacles to accessing finance and receive tailored advisory support.

The platform leverages Meta’s Llama open source model and other AI technologies to provide SMMEs with the tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive market, the organisations say.

The platform aims to empower African SMMEs by unlocking their full potential and driving inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent. It demonstrates the transformative power of Meta’s Llama model and other AI technologies to address some of the challenges faced by SMMEs, AUDA-NEPAD says.

The initiative will also foster partnerships and collaboration among key stakeholders, including governments, development partners and international organisations, to support the platform’s scalability and impact, it adds.

“ALKALI AI marks a significant milestone in [Meta's] mission to democratise access to cutting-edge technology and unlock Africa's entrepreneurial potential. Leveraging the power of Meta's Llama open source AI model, we are equipping SMMEs with the tools and resources necessary to drive innovation, create jobs and build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Africans,” says Meta Africa, Middle East and Türkiye public policy VP Kojo Boakye.

“This partnership demonstrates the transformative impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts between governments, the private sector and civil society in addressing the continent's most pressing challenges and seizing its many opportunities,” he says.

“The ALKALI AI platform supports innovation and inclusive growth by providing SMMEs with the tools they need to overcome challenges and drive sustainable development,” says AUDA-NEPAD CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas.

ALKALI AI showcases the potential of Meta’s Llama model to address real-world challenges faced by SMMEs.

“We believe this platform will be a catalyst for positive socioeconomic change across Africa,” she says.