Code for Africa has opened applications for the 2026 AI for Good Fellowship, a program that supports African engineers applying artificial intelligence to strengthen the work of human rights organizations across Africa. This fellowship is offered under the Digitalize Youth consortium.
The program will help six technologists use AI tools to address real-world social and civil challenges and collaborate with human rights defenders in the Sahel and neighboring regions of West and East Africa. The initiative is open to candidates with ties to regional countries such as Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia and Cameroon.
The fellowship aims to bridge the widening gap between civil society organizations facing challenges in managing information, countering harmful discourse, and amplifying their impact, and the new opportunities that AI presents for advocacy, research, and social engagement. Selected fellows will work directly with human rights organizations to co-design AI tools such as multilingual research assistants, systems to analyze large datasets, tools to track misinformation, and workflow automation solutions to enhance public engagement.
Applicants must demonstrate strong technical experience, particularly in building AI-driven solutions using large-scale language models, natural language processing, or data analytics. We also need proven experience working on projects with social impact, such as civic technology, public interest tools, and community-based solutions. Data fluency, design thinking, and the ability to prototype and scale in resource-constrained environments are essential, along with a clear commitment to ethical AI practices that include fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
Candidates must be fluent in English, French, or Arabic and demonstrate a clear connection to the African community. Familiarity with open source tools and working with civil society and policy makers may be an added advantage.
Selected fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $500 for four months. You will also have access to mentorship and technical support from Code for Africa’s TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox, as well as guidance from global experts, civil society leaders, and policy makers. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with regional networks working on climate resilience, public health, and digital rights to test and scale their solutions in real-world situations. Fellows will have the opportunity to create deliverables such as AI prototypes, research summaries, and scalable intervention plans, and present their findings to local and global audiences.
Applications can be submitted at https://opportunities.codeforafrica.org/2026/04/14/call-for-applications-ai-for-good-fellowship-2/.
