The AI For Good Fellowship 2026 is open to technologists across Africa with hands-on experience building AI tools, and the application deadline is 11 May 2026. This is a four-month fellowship, not a degree programme or scholarship in the traditional sense — it is a paid technical placement that pairs experienced AI practitioners with Human Rights Defender organisations across the Sahel and neighbouring regions, with a $500 monthly stipend, structured mentorship, and access to technical infrastructure through Code for Africa.
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This fellowship is run by the Digitalise Youth consortium through Code for Africa, in partnership with organisations including AfricTivistes, the European Partnership for Democracy, Canal France International, the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and the Kofi Annan Foundation. The focus is specific: fellows build practical AI tools — multilingual research assistants, large-scale text and dataset analysis tools, systems for detecting harmful narratives, and workflow automation for civic engagement — that directly support the work of human rights organisations operating in difficult environments. This is not an entry-level opportunity. The eligibility bar assumes you already have real technical experience, including work with generative AI and large language models, and a demonstrated interest in human rights and social impact work.
If you are a technologist from Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, or Somalia, you fall within the countries the programme specifically encourages to apply, given its regional focus on the Sahel and neighbouring areas. Applicants from outside this list with a genuine connection to African communities are not excluded, but should expect competition to favour candidates working directly within the fellowship’s core regional focus.
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AI For Good Fellowship in Africa Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | AI For Good Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | Africa |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | $500 monthly stipend, mentorship, technical lab access, networking, project support |
| Funded By ⇒ | Digitalise Youth consortium, through Code for Africa |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Selected African countries — applicants from Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia especially encouraged |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | May 11, 2026 |
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About the AI For Good Fellowship
Code for Africa is one of the continent’s leading civic technology organisations, working across data journalism, digital rights, and technology-for-good initiatives in multiple African countries. The AI For Good Fellowship sits within the organisation’s broader Digitalise Youth Project, an initiative focused on strengthening civic space, countering disinformation, and promoting digital rights across the continent — with this fellowship specifically channelling that mission into applied AI work.
The fellowship’s regional focus on the Sahel reflects the operating environment of the Human Rights Defender organisations it supports. Civil society groups in this region often work under significant pressure, with limited technical infrastructure and high-stakes information environments. The fellowship’s emphasis on resource-constrained design and ethical AI deployment is not incidental — it is a direct response to the conditions fellows will actually be working in.
Fellows are supported by Code for Africa’s technical infrastructure, including its TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox, alongside access to global AI experts and civil society partners. This combination of technical backing and direct partnership with human rights organisations distinguishes the fellowship from a general AI internship or research placement — fellows are expected to deliver functioning tools that civil society partners can actually use, not exploratory research projects.
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What the AI For Good Fellowship Covers
Selected fellows receive the following over the four-month programme:
- $500 monthly stipend, paid for the duration of the fellowship
- Mentorship from Code for Africa and partner organisations throughout the programme
- Access to technical labs and AI development support, including the CfA TechLab, CfA DataLab, and AI Sandbox
- Opportunity to work on real-world social challenges in partnership with Human Rights Defender organisations across the Sahel
- Networking opportunities with regional and global AI and civil society experts
- Opportunity to showcase completed projects to international partners, with fellows presenting their final projects at local, regional, and global events
The $500 monthly stipend should be understood in context — it is intended as fellowship support, not a full-time professional salary. If you are currently employed, confirm with the programme organisers whether the fellowship can be combined with ongoing work, since the programme requires full availability for its four-month duration.
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Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the AI For Good Fellowship 2026, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be a technologist with experience applying AI to real-world problems — this is not a learning opportunity for beginners
- You must demonstrate a genuine interest in human rights and social impact work
- You must have hands-on experience building AI tools, including generative AI and large language models
- You must have practical skills in data collection, cleaning, and analysis
- You must be able to design and test solutions in resource-constrained environments — infrastructure limitations are a real operating condition for this fellowship, not a hypothetical
- You must have experience working with communities, civil society organisations, or policymakers
- You must demonstrate knowledge of ethical AI practices
- You must be familiar with open-source tools and open data principles
- You must be fluent in English, French, or Arabic
- You must have a connection to African communities
Applicants from Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia are specifically encouraged to apply, given the fellowship’s regional focus on the Sahel and neighbouring areas.
Required Documents
Prepare the following before starting your application:
- Completed application form
- CV or professional profile, detailing your relevant technical and social impact experience
- Portfolio of AI projects or previous work — this should demonstrate actual tools or systems you have built, not just courses completed or certifications held
- Supporting documents demonstrating experience and impact — evidence of outcomes from your prior work, where available
- Any additional documents requested during the application process
Your portfolio carries significant weight in this application. Given the fellowship’s focus on delivering working tools, applicants who can show concrete, functioning AI projects — even small-scale ones — will stand out clearly from applicants who can only describe theoretical knowledge or coursework.
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How to Apply
- Visit the official AI For Good Fellowship application portal
- Complete the online application form
- Provide detailed information on your AI and social impact experience — be specific about tools you have built, problems you have solved, and the communities or organisations you have worked with
- Upload your CV and all supporting documents, including your project portfolio
- Review your application carefully before submission — incomplete or vague applications are unlikely to be competitive given the technical bar required
- Submit your application before 11 May 2026
- Wait for further communication from the organisers if you are shortlisted — only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
The fellowship duration is four months, and selected fellows must be available for the entire programme period. Confirm your availability for the full four months before applying, since partial participation is not described as an option.
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Application Deadline
11 May 2026
No specific time zone or cutoff time is published on the official listing. Given that Code for Africa’s operations span multiple African time zones, confirm the exact deadline time directly through the official application portal before the closing date, rather than assuming a specific cutoff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AI For Good Fellowship fully funded?
It is a paid fellowship rather than a fully funded scholarship. Fellows receive a $500 monthly stipend, mentorship, and access to technical infrastructure for the four-month duration. It does not cover relocation, housing, or living costs beyond the monthly stipend itself.
Can Nigerian applicants apply for the AI For Good Fellowship?
Nigeria is not on the list of countries specifically encouraged to apply, since the fellowship’s regional focus is the Sahel and neighbouring areas — Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Nigerian applicants with a strong technical profile and genuine connection to African communities are not explicitly excluded, but should expect the strongest competition to come from technologists working directly within the Sahel region.
Do I need a degree to apply for this fellowship?
The eligibility requirements do not specify a formal degree requirement. What matters is demonstrated technical experience — hands-on work with AI tools, including generative AI and large language models, and a track record of applying that work to real-world problems.
What kind of AI tools will fellows build?
The fellowship focuses on practical tools including multilingual research assistants, systems for analysing large datasets and text, tools for detecting harmful narratives, and workflow automation for civic engagement, developed in partnership with Human Rights Defender organisations.
Is this a remote fellowship or does it require relocation?
The official listing does not specify whether the fellowship is remote, in-person, or hybrid. Confirm the working arrangement directly with Code for Africa through the official application portal before applying, since this affects your availability planning for the four-month period.
How competitive is the AI For Good Fellowship?
Code for Africa has not published acceptance rates or the number of fellowship places available for this cohort. Given the specific technical and regional requirements, applicants with a strong project portfolio and direct experience working with civil society organisations or Human Rights Defenders are likely to be the most competitive.
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Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from official AI For Good Fellowship and Code for Africa sources as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly from the official source before submitting your application.
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