Applications are now open for the Code for Africa AI For Good Fellowship 2026. This four-month remote fellowship supports technologists in selected African countries to work with Human Rights Defender (HRD) organisations and strengthen their impact through the responsible use of AI.
The program is offered by Code for Africa through the Digitalise Youth consortium. In total, six fellows will be selected. They will receive a $500/month stipend, mentorship, and the chance to build practical AI solutions for real-world public-interest challenges.
Application Deadline: 11th May 2026
Eligible Countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia
Program Duration: Four months
Program Location: Remote fellowship for applicants located in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Funding/Benefits: $500/month stipend
Award Provider: Code for Africa
About this Program
The AI For Good Fellowship is designed for technologists who can use AI responsibly to support civic information, human rights work, and broader social impact. Specifically, fellows will work with Human Rights Defender organisations to improve existing AI-enabled initiatives or help design new tools and workflows.
In addition, the fellowship focuses on practical and context-sensitive solutions. Fellows may develop research briefs, prototype AI tools, generate actionable insights, and create plans for scaling AI-enabled interventions. They will also present capstone projects to partners and at events.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrated experience in developing AI-driven solutions that enhance civic information, support human rights defenders, or address societal challenges
- Expertise in collecting, cleaning, and analysing socio-economic or environmental datasets
- Skill in co-creating solutions with communities and CSOs
- Track record of testing AI solutions in resource-constrained settings
- Ability to design tools for broad adoption across diverse regions
- Experience in AI modelling, including NLP, computer vision, or predictive analytics
- Commitment to fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in AI design
- Experience working with policymakers or grassroots organisations
- Fluency in either English, French, or Arabic
- Familiarity with open-source tools and open-data principles
- Applicants must demonstrate ties to African communities
- Applicants must be located in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, or Somalia
What Fellows Receive: $500/month stipend; four-month fellowship; mentorship from CfA’s TechLab and partner institutions at the Digitalise Youth consortium; collaboration with the consortium and its regional networks; opportunity to work with HRD organisations to implement solutions to existing challenges; opportunity to present capstone projects to local, national, continental, and global partners and at events.
Program Components Work with Human Rights Defender organisations to strengthen their impact through responsible use of AI; support HRDs to strengthen existing AI-enabled initiatives and resources or design new tools and workflows; co-design AI tools with HRDs; support safe and context-sensitive deployment of AI solutions; generate actionable insights to inform policy, advocacy, and public-interest interventions; develop AI-enabled tools or interventions independently or in collaboration with other experts; produce research briefs, prototype AI tools, and practical plans for scaling AI-enabled interventions; present capstone projects to partners and at events.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete the online application form before the deadline. Because the fellowship is competitive, review the eligibility criteria carefully before applying.
👉 Visit the official fellowship page for details
