African Multilingual Image-Text Annotator (Native Speakers)

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. We connect contributors with projects that shape how modern AI systems learn from human examples and offer flexible, remote work you can do from anywhere.

On OpenTrain you can start and grow a career teaching AI: create a profile, discover projects across the industry, and apply in minutes. This project is an academic collaboration hosted by MBZUAI and run through OpenTrain.

About This Project

This academic research project at MBZUAI is building a multimodal benchmark of African cultural content covering cuisine, attire, art, architecture, and festivals. Raw image–text data has been collected and now needs native speakers to validate and refine captions and metadata.

Work is 100% remote, performed in a browser-based internal annotation tool (no install required). Short onboarding and written guidelines are provided before you begin.

The Role: What You'll Do

You will review image–text samples and ensure cultural, geographic, and categorical accuracy. Each sample takes an estimated 2–4 minutes.

Tasks include verifying the claimed country and category, rewriting or correcting captions in your native language and English, adding brief cultural context where relevant, and flagging mislabeled, low-quality, or duplicate samples.

• Verify image and text correctly represent the claimed country and category.
• Correct or rewrite the caption in your native language and in English.
• Add short cultural context (when relevant) to help researchers understand the subject.
• Flag mislabeled, low-quality, or duplicate samples.

Languages Needed (54 varieties)

We are looking for native or near-native speakers of the following languages. Multilingual annotators are welcome to apply for multiple languages.

Arabic varieties: Tunisian (aeb), Egyptian (arz), Mesopotamian (acm), Najdi (ars), South Levantine (ajp), Levantine (apc), MSA (arb), Algerian (arq), Moroccan (ary). North & West Africa: Kabyle (kab), Twi (twi), Dyula (dyu), Fon (fon), Kabiyé (kbp), Mossi (mos), Bambara (bam), Fulah (ful), Akan (aka), Yoruba (yor), Nigerian Pidgin (pcm), Hausa (hau), Igbo (ibo), Umbundu (umb), Lingala (lin), Kimbundu (kmb). Central & East Africa: Kikongo (kon), Luba-Kasai (lua), Bemba (bem), Kinyarwanda (kin), Luganda (lug), Oromo (orm), Amharic (amh), Kirundi (run), West-Central Oromo (gaz), Kamba (kam), Kikuyu (kik), Nuer (nus), Chichewa/Nyanja (nya), Luo (luo), Somali (som), Swahili (swa). Horn & Indian Ocean: Tigrinya (tir), Malagasy (mlg). Southern Africa: Shona (sna), Xhosa (xho), Sesotho (sot), Zulu (zul), Tsonga (tso), Afrikaans (afr), Northern Sotho (nso), Tumbuka (tum), Tswana (tsn), IsiNdebele (nde). Lusophone Africa: Portuguese (por) and Emakhuwa (vmw).

Requirements

You must be a native or near-native speaker of at least one listed language with strong cultural familiarity with the relevant region, and have working English proficiency.

This is entry-level annotation work, but attention to detail and cultural knowledge are essential. Reliable internet access and the ability to work in a browser-based annotation tool are required.

• Native or near-native fluency in at least one listed language.
• Strong cultural familiarity with the country/region you annotate.
• Working English proficiency and clear written skills.
• Reliable internet and attention to detail.

Pay, Volume & Schedule

Payment is per-sample at $0.29, with weekly payouts processed via OpenTrain. The project begins with a pilot of 50 samples per language and may expand to 1,000–2,000 samples per language over 6–8 weeks.

Work is contract, part-time, and hours are flexible. Expected time commitment is less than 20 hours per week; availability for approximately 1–3 months is requested during the project window.

• Rate: $0.29 per annotated sample (PAY_PER_LABEL).
• Pilot: 50 samples per language; full project up to 1,000–2,000 samples per language over 6–8 weeks.
• Flexible hours; less than 20 hours/week preferred; 1–3 months availability.

How To Apply

To apply, tell us: (1) which language(s) you speak and your country/region, (2) a brief note about your cultural familiarity with the area(s) you'll annotate, (3) any prior annotation or linguistic work you’ve done, and (4) your availability.

Assignments run in a browser-based internal tool (no install). A short onboarding and written guidelines will prepare you for the task. Weekly payouts will be handled through OpenTrain once you are active on the project.

• Include language(s) and country/region when you apply.
• Describe your cultural familiarity and any annotation or linguistic experience.
• State your availability and expected weekly hours.