Application Deadline
Application Deadline: 3rd March 2025
Fellowship Overview
Applications are now open for the Media Sentinel Fellowships. The fellowships are part of a joint initiative between Code for Africa (CfA) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen information integrity by detecting, disrupting, and deplatforming malign actors in the SADC region. The fellowship aims to protect inclusive democracy and human rights in the digital age, leveraging digital technologies to strengthen democracy with an emphasis on climate-related narratives, foreign information manipulation and interference, the 2026 South African municipal elections, and xenophobia in the following countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be non-partisan, without any link to government agencies, paramilitary organisations, political parties, state-affiliated media, or other bodies that might create the perception of partisanship in either national or local politics.
- Be fluent in English or French.
- Have access to a reliable personal laptop or computer with stable internet connectivity to participate in programme activities, online classes, and mentorship sessions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of using social media platforms such as Facebook, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, and X.
- Be available for weekly one-hour virtual meetings.
Fellowship Package
The programme will run for six months and will include:
- Stipend: Fellows will receive a competitive monthly stipend depending on their influence as macro or nano influencers and experience in similar previous projects.
- Training and mentoring: CfA will provide advanced training and mentoring in traditional and social media monitoring. The fellowships will enable individuals to use their social media and analytics skills in conjunction with CfA’s watchlists and lexicons, to proactively pre-group, interpret and communicate early warning signals for early detection of toxic online content.
Grant Atlas