Code for Africa (CfA) CivicTech Fellowship 2023

Deadline: February 19, 2023

Come help us build digital democracies that are more accountable and more responsive to citizens.

Following our pilot in 2022, Code for Africa (CfA) is offering a second set of 4-6 month CivicTech Fellowships for mid-career digital strategists, digital creators, technologists, data scientists and UX strategists/designers to support open government advocates and partners in 55 African Union member states.

Successful applicants will help a broad range of watchdog civil society organisations build civic technology projects that amplify citizen voices or help keep governments accountable as part of the Charter Project that supports the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).

Candidates can range from digital engagement strategists or viral content designers to UX experts, software engineers and data scientists who will work with partner organisations selected through the Civic Tech Fund Africa to design, test and launch digital tools that empower citizens. Applicants should be strongly committed to using human-centred solutions and working in the open, using open data and open-source approaches that subscribe to global best practices.

Fellows will work in multidisciplinary teams, with ongoing support from CfA’s in-house TechLab and DataLab, its design/content teams, and strategic support from Charter Project partner institutions, ranging from policy advice and democratic governance think tanks to research support.

The Code for Africa (CfA) fellowship package will consist of the following:

1. Stipend: Full-time fellows will receive a $1,550/month stipend. Stipends for part-time fellows will be negotiated depending on the time commitment and the project’s complexity.
2. Mentorship: All fellows will receive ongoing one-on-one mentorship from CfA’s core TechLab and DataLab teams of veteran civic technologists, data scientists and digital strategists.
3. Networking: Fellows will tap into the Charter Project’s network of six coalition partner organisations and the African Union’s network of digital engagement partners.
4. Showcasing: Fellows’ projects and insights/learnings will be prominently showcased at digital democracy events in Africa and globally.
5. Launchpad: Fellows will have the inside track for full-time positions at Charter Project partner organisations, including CfA’s growing TechLab and DataLab.

SEE ALSO: Pear Female Founder Circles Program 2023

Eligibility Criteria

The Code for Africa (CfA) CivicTech Fellowships are intended to give mid-career technologists or digital strategists a sabbatical to “pay it forward”, using their deep skills/insights to transform how civil society organisations use technology to empower citizens.

We are therefore seeking candidates with the following: 

• A passion for creative problem-solving and using light-touch-appropriate technologies that will work reliably with minimal intervention in challenging environments.
• A demonstrable track record for building and launching successful digital services/products or shaping high-impact digital campaigns.
• Understanding human-centred design processes and rapid prototyping and the importance of user experience (UX) approaches to designing digital products.
• Experience working in distributed multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced multinational environments and support of non-technical partners/clients. 
• A commitment to learning and sharing insights within the Charter Project ecosystem and the wider global civic technology movement.
• A commitment to open knowledge principles, including adhering to open source and open data principles (and documentation), with an understanding of global best practices for ethical data/technology use.

Applicants must be fully conversant in the dominant international language of their region (English, French or Portuguese). Multilingual applicants will have an advantage. Applicants should preferably be based in one of the 55

The AU recognises African member states, but exceptional candidates based elsewhere will be considered if they can show a strong link or commitment to Africa.

Applicants associated with intelligence or security agencies, paramilitary organisations, state-affiliated propaganda or media agencies or organisations prescribed by the UN, AU, or EU are not eligible for these fellowships. 

Application Registration Deadline: 19th February 2023

To Apply: click here

Official Website: Click here