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Application deadline: June 8, 2026
Applications are now being accepted for 2026 AI Hub for Sustainable Development Cyber4Africa Program. The Cyber4Africa program brings together Cyber 4.0’s deep expertise in cybersecurity capacity building, Cisco Kenya’s technology infrastructure and regional reach, and AI Hub’s ecosystem position at the intersection of AI development, policy, and institutional trust. Together, these partners are building something that does not yet exist at scale in Africa: a practical, startup-oriented cyber resilience model built into the AI development lifecycle from the beginning.
The program is designed with the belief that the most important interventions are upstream. Rather than auditing systems after vulnerabilities emerge, we empower founders and technical teams to build securely from day one. We’re building security by design into our innovation processes to earn trust before it’s tested. We also aim to build a community of practice among African AI founders who understand that a collective security posture shapes the trustworthiness of the entire ecosystem.
Sectoral focus
The program targets African AI startups in five sectors with the highest cybersecurity exposures and the highest impact of failure.
- Healthcare and digital health — Security flaws in patient records, diagnostics, and healthcare infrastructure can compromise healthcare and undermine public trust.
- Fintech and financial services — It is the most targeted sector around the world and one where cyber incidents undermine both financial inclusion and consumer confidence.
- Government Tech and Civic Technology — In digital identity and e-government platforms, vulnerabilities directly undermine institutional legitimacy.
- Energy and climate technology — AI-enabled infrastructure where digital vulnerabilities have physical and national consequences.
- AI infrastructure and data platform — The foundational layer where security failures cascade throughout a network of users, developers, and dependent systems.
Program details
The program will run for six months and is structured around three interconnected workstreams.
- Cyber resilience and awareness: Customized advisory support to help startups assess their cybersecurity posture, strengthen organizational awareness, and comply with international security standards. All participating startups will undergo a Cybersecurity Lite assessment at the beginning of the program.
- Training and development: Get professional training delivered remotely and in-person, including webinars on AI security essentials, cybersecurity starter mini-courses, and access to hands-on workshops at Cisco’s Cybersecurity Training Center in Nairobi.
- Technical and operational support: Practical support for startups to implement cybersecurity management, strengthen incident response capabilities, and improve operational resiliency through expert engagement, technical office hours, and AI security quick scans
requirements
The Cyber4Africa program targets African AI startups including:
- Have an AI-enabled product, platform, or service at MVP stage or above
- Operate in environments with significant cybersecurity exposure
- Processing sensitive personal, financial or operational data
- Incorporates one or more of the program’s five priority areas
- Are you based in Africa or building solutions for the African market?
- Ability to actively participate in the entire 6-month program
advantage
Participants in the Cyber4Africa program will:
- Receive a structured cybersecurity assessment and prioritized action plan tailored to your technology stack and sector context
- Build the necessary technical and operational security capabilities to protect products, user data, and organizational partnerships
- Access expert-led training remotely or in-person through the Cyber 4.0 Expert Network and Cisco’s Nairobi Training Center.
- Strengthen our position with institutional partners, investors, and regulators who increasingly require evidence of security practices before sourcing or collaborating
- Join a community of African AI founders committed to building with security and trust at their heart
Program timeline
For more information:
AI Hub for Sustainable Development Visit the official webpage of the Cyber4Africa program
