Africa's artificial intelligence (AI) governance landscape is about to get a major boost from within. Code for Africa, through its Digitalise Youth consortium, is recruiting two mid-career professionals to shape how AI tools are adopted responsibly across the Sahel and neighboring West and East African regions. The fellowship targets experts with experience in digital governance, policy, and rights who want to influence how AI gets regulated in civic technology and government sectors. Why Does Africa Need Its Own AI Ethics Framework? The Sahel faces a unique challenge: rapid AI adoption without locally tailored governance structures. While Europe has the EU AI Act and global bodies reference frameworks like the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) AI Principles, African nations lack comprehensive regional standards that account for their specific contexts. The fellowship addresses this gap by having fellows analyze both regional regulationsâsuch as the AU (African Union) Cyber Security Convention and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) data lawsâalongside global standards, then design strategies to mitigate bias and advocate for inclusive AI policies. This matters because AI systems trained on data from wealthy nations often perform poorly for African populations. Without culturally informed governance, AI tools deployed in voting systems, healthcare, or law enforcement could amplify existing inequalities or fail to protect vulnerable groups. What Will Fellows Actually Produce? The fellowship isn't theoretical. Selected candidates will deliver concrete, actionable outputs designed to influence real policy decisions. These deliverables include: - AI Workplace Policies: Guidelines for organizations integrating AI tools while protecting employee rights and data privacy. - Culturally Informed Impact Assessments: Evaluations of how AI systems affect specific communities, particularly marginalized populations in the Sahel. - Regulatory Reports: Evidence-based recommendations for national and regional governments on AI governance frameworks. - Risk Evaluations: Technical and ethical risk assessments identifying potential harms before AI systems are deployed at scale. Fellows will present these capstone projects to local, national, continental, and global partners at major events, giving their work direct pathways to influence policy conversations. Who Should Apply, and What Skills Matter Most? The fellowship seeks professionals with specific expertise. Ideal candidates have backgrounds in policy development, regulatory compliance, or digital rights related to technology and data. But the consortium is particularly interested in people who can bridge the gap between ethics and technologyâthose who understand how to translate abstract ethical principles into actionable specifications that developers can actually implement. Key qualifications include: - Policy Drafting Experience: Proven ability to create guidelines, legal briefs, or advisory reports that shape organizational or government decisions. - Knowledge of Global Frameworks: Familiarity with GDPR, OECD AI Principles, or UNESCO's AI ethics recommendations, combined with understanding of African governance structures. - Bias Mitigation Skills: Experience conducting fairness audits or ethical risk assessments that identify how AI systems might discriminate against specific groups. - Cultural Sensitivity: Deep understanding of how AI's socio-cultural impacts differ across marginalized communities in the Sahel and neighboring regions. - Advocacy Track Record: Demonstrated ability to influence corporate AI practices or shape policy outcomes through coalition-building and strategic communication. Multilingual candidates fluent in English, French, or Arabic have an advantage, and prior experience working with African civil society organizations or multilateral institutions is valued. How to Prepare Your Fellowship Application - Document Your Policy Impact: Gather examples of regulations, guidelines, or advisory reports you've drafted or reviewed. Show how your work influenced decisions at organizational or government levels. - Demonstrate Technical Collaboration: Provide evidence that you've worked with developers, engineers, or technical teams to translate ethical principles into concrete technical requirements or system designs. - Highlight Vulnerability-Focused Work: Emphasize projects where you've assessed AI's impact on vulnerable or marginalized populations, particularly in African contexts. - Show Regional Commitment: Articulate your commitment to African communities and explain why you're passionate about shaping AI governance in the Sahel specifically. What Support Do Fellows Receive? This isn't a solo project. Fellows gain access to a robust ecosystem of support from Code for Africa's specialized teams and the broader Digitalise Youth consortium. The fellowship package includes a $500 monthly stipend for three months, mentorship from Code for Africa's TechLab, training on information integrity and digital security, and collaboration with partner institutions including digital rights organizations, think tanks, and democratic governance experts. The consortium itself brings diverse expertise. AfricTivistes functions as the digital activism catalyst, launching innovation hubs and funding youth developers building tools to counter disinformation. The European Partnership for Democracy acts as the policy architect, driving digital rights reforms through African Union and ECOWAS engagement. Canal France International serves as the media integrity guardian, training journalists to combat misinformation. The World Scout Bureau Africa operates as the youth skills accelerator, teaching digital literacy in underserved communities. The Kofi Annan Foundation emerges as the human rights steward, advancing ethical AI governance aligned with African Union standards. This multi-stakeholder approach means fellows aren't isolated in their workâthey're embedded in networks that can amplify their recommendations and connect them to decision-makers at local, regional, and international levels. Why This Matters for Africa's Digital Future The Digitalise Youth Project, which houses this fellowship, addresses a critical problem: the shrinking civic space and rampant disinformation in the Sahel and neighboring regions. By empowering local professionals to shape AI governance, the initiative bridges the gap between human rights defenders and the tech community. It equips activists and civil society organizations with knowledge about how AI systems work and how to advocate for safeguards that protect individuals rather than exploit them. Applications close on March 30, 2026. Eligible candidates are based in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, South Sudan, Ethiopia, or Somalia. This is a rare opportunity to shape how one of the world's fastest-growing regions approaches AI governanceânot from Silicon Valley or Brussels, but from within Africa itself.
