AI ETHICS FELLOWSHIP: Ready to champion responsible AI in Africa?
Code for Africa (CfA), through the Digitalise Youth consortium, is offering two fellowships to mid-career professionals with experience in digital governance, policy and rights who want to make an impact in Africa’s AI landscape. We are seeking experts based in the Sahel, as well as neighbouring countries in West and East Africa.
Under this fellowship, chosen candidates will develop research and policy recommendations for the ethical adoption of AI tools in governance and civic technology sectors, keeping the safeguarding of individuals at the centre of the work. Candidates will do this by analysing regional regulations (e.g., AU Cyber Security Convention, ECOWAS data laws) and global standards (GDPR, OECD AI Principles) while designing strategies to mitigate bias and advocate for inclusive AI policies.
Fellows will produce key deliverables such as AI workplace policies, culturally informed impact assessments, regulatory reports, and risk evaluations. Applicants should, therefore, have experience in policy/regulation drafting or review as well as privacy or digital laws and frameworks. Candidates with experience in areas such as AI ethics, technology ethics, or the societal impact of technology, particularly concerning vulnerable populations will have an advantage.
Selected fellows will receive support from CfA’s TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox, alongside the Digitalise Youth consortium’s policy advisors and global ethical AI networks. Partners include digital rights organisations, think tanks, and democratic governance experts. Fellows will gain strategic resources to refine their frameworks, from technical guidance to policy advocacy platforms.
Fellowship Package
- Stipend: $500/month
- Duration: Three months
- Mentorship – Guidance from CfA’s TechLab and support from partner institutions at Digitalise Youth consortium.
- Training: Access to relevant courses and training on information integrity and digital security.
- Real world impact: Opportunity to share recommendations and engage in global discussions on AI ethics in Africa
- Networking: Collaborate with the consortium and its regional networks.
- Showcasing: Present capstone projects to local, national, continental, and global partners and at events.
Are You Eligible?
We seek policy experts and ethicists with:
- Governance Expertise – Background in policy development, regulatory compliance, or digital rights related to technology, data or innovation.
- Policy Drafting – Skill in creating guidelines, legal briefs, or advisory reports.
- Global Frameworks – Knowledge of GDPR, OECD AI Principles, or UNESCO’s AI ethics recommendations.
- Privacy & Security – Familiarity with data protection laws and human rights considerations.
- Bias Mitigation – Experience conducting fairness audits or ethical risk assessments.
- Technical Collaboration – Ability to translate ethical principles into actionable technical specs for developers.
- Advocacy Skills – Track record of influencing policy or corporate AI practices.
- Cultural Sensitivity – Understanding of AI’s socio-cultural impacts on marginalised groups.
- Experience working with African civil society or multilateral institutions.
- Fluency in either English/French/Arabic (multilingual candidates preferred).
- Location: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia.
- Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to African communities.
Eligible candidates are invited to fill this form by 01 May 2025 to join a transformative cohort of innovators addressing the Sahel’s most pressing challenges through ethical AI.
About the project
The Digitalise Youth Project, part of the Digital Democracy Initiative, aims to address the shrinking civic space and rampant disinformation in the Sahel and neighbouring regions by empowering local youth activists and civil society organisations. The project focuses on enhancing digital skills, promoting civic tech solutions, and raising awareness about online political engagement. By bridging the gap between human rights defenders and the tech community, the project equips young activists and media organisations with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital ecosystem, protect themselves from surveillance, and fight against disinformation. In addition to its capacity-building work, Digitalise Youth’s advocacy efforts seek to promote digital rights at local, regional, and international levels, urging the ratification of the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection.
About the partners
Code for Africa (CfA)
CfA will give fellows access to support from its openAFRICA data ‘liberation’ team, the commons.AFRICA open source team, the source.AFRICA evidence research team, and a string of wider communities that CfA manages, including the africanDRONE community of civic drone/mapping pioneers, the sensor.AFRICA community that uses remote sensors to monitor air/water/radiation and other environmental information, the PesaCheck fact-checking team that debunks misinformation, the iLAB forensic investigation team that tracks and exposes hate speech or other toxic content, the CivicSignal media monitoring and content analysis team, and the WanaData network of women data scientists/storytellers who liberate and amplify feminist data.
AfricTivistes
AfricTivistes will function as the digital activism catalyst, launching innovation hubs and civic tech events to foster grassroots solutions. It will fund youth developers building tools to counter disinformation and monitor governance accountability. AfricTivistes will leverage its pan-African network to ensure culturally resonant, locally driven advocacy.
European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)
EPD will act as the policy architect, driving digital rights reforms through AU/ECOWAS engagement and global platforms like the UN. It will connect Sahel youth leaders with AU-ECOSOCC to advance the African Charter on Democracy. EPD will integrate civic tech into regional governance frameworks through coalition-building and advocacy.
Canal France International (CFI)
CFI will stand as the media integrity guardian, training Sahel journalists to combat misinformation and online threats. It will equip young creators with ethical storytelling tools and amplify human rights reporting via Francophone media partnerships. CFI will prioritise digital safety for activists in conflict zones like Sudan and Mali.
World Scout Bureau Africa (WOSM)
WOSM will operate as the youth skills accelerator, using Scouting networks to teach digital literacy and AI basics in underserved communities. It will fund grassroots tech projects in Benin and Cameroon, fostering youth leadership in climate and governance. WOSM will deploy mobile training units to bridge urban-rural tech gaps.
Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF)
KAF will emerge as the human rights steward, advancing ethical AI governance aligned with AU standards. It will mentor activists in Ethiopia and Somalia to advocate for digital rights safeguards. KAF will link Sahel partners to global platforms like the UN, ensuring local voices shape international tech policies.