Code for Africa AI For Good Fellowship 2026 for African Technologists ($500/month stipend)

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 11th May 2026

Fellowship Description

The Digitalise Youth consortium, through Code for Africa (CfA), is offering six fellowships for technologists in Africa to work with Human Rights Defender (HRD) organisations and help them strengthen their impact through the responsible use of AI.

The HRD organisations will be based in the Sahel, as well as neighbouring countries in West and East Africa, so familiarity with the region and its political, social, and digital realities is essential.

Through this fellowship, technologists will support HRDs to strengthen existing AI-enabled initiatives and resources, or to design new tools and workflows where needed. Fellows should therefore have proven experience building practical AI tools, especially using generative AI tools, including large language models (LLMs), as well as a strong commitment to human rights and responsible AI practice. Activities will include co-designing AI tools with HRDs, supporting safe and context-sensitive deployment, and generating actionable insights to inform policy, advocacy, and public-interest interventions.

Fellows may develop AI-enabled tools/interventions independently or in collaboration with other experts. These solutions may include multilingual research assistants, tools for analysing and summarising large volumes of text, systems for detecting or tracking harmful narratives, and workflow automation that strengthens civic engagement and public-interest response. Expected deliverables include research briefs, prototype AI tools, and practical plans for scaling AI-enabled interventions that strengthen HRDs’ work and help safeguard public discourse.

Selected fellows will receive support from CfA’s TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox, as well as mentorship from global AI experts, civil society organisations, and policymakers. The wider partnership includes climate resilience networks, public health organisations, and digital rights advocates, providing additional opportunities for prototyping, testing, and scaling solutions.

Requirements

The fellowship seeks problem-solvers with:

• Social Impact – Demonstrated experience in developing AI-driven solutions that enhance civic information, support human rights defenders, or address societal challenges.
• Data Fluency – Expertise in collecting, cleaning, and analysing socio-economic or environmental datasets.
• Design Thinking – Skill in co-creating solutions with communities and CSOs.
• Prototyping Experience – Track record of testing AI solutions in resource-constrained settings.
• Scalability Planning – Ability to design tools for broad adoption across diverse regions.
• Technical Proficiency – Experience in AI modelling (NLP, computer vision, predictive analytics).
• Ethical AI Practices – Commitment to fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in AI design.
• Collaboration Skills – Experience working with policymakers or grassroots organisations.
• Fluency in either English/French/Arabic
• Familiarity with open-source tools and open-data principles.
• Applicants must demonstrate ties to African communities.
• Location: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia.

Benefits

1. Stipend: $500/month
2. Duration: Four months
3. Mentorship: Guidance from CfA’s TechLab and support from partner institutions at the Digitalise Youth consortium.
4. Network: Collaborate with the consortium and its regional networks.
5. Real world impact: Opportunity to work with HRD organisations to implement solutions to existing challenges.
6. Showcase: Present capstone projects to local, national, continental, and global partners, and at events.