CALL FOR FELLOWS – Fungai Africa DPI Governance in Africa Fellowship 2026
At FUNGAI Africa, we believe that how we govern technology reveals who we are as societies. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which includes identity systems, data platforms, and service portals reshaping state-citizen relations, is not neutral. It either deepens inequality or advances justice. This fellowship brings together a new generation of African researchers to audit DPI through a human rights and democratic lens.
Fellowship objectives
- Analyze DPI governance using rights-based and social justice frameworks
- Investigate how DPI affects marginalised communities (women, refugees, rural populations, persons with disabilities)
- Apply digital security best practices in sensitive research environments
- Translate complex findings into policy, advocacy, and public-facing outputs
- Join a growing network of African digital rights and policy practitioners
Fellowship Structure
- Fellows: 3 early-career researchers
- Duration: June – August 2026 (3 months)
- Format: Remote | Part-time (15–20 hrs/week)
- Stipend: $300/month ($900 total)
- Engagement: Bi-weekly virtual seminars
- Focus Countries: Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania
Programme Curriculum (3 Months)
Month 1: Foundations & Frameworks
- Understanding DPI and its role in democracy and AI systems
- Rights-based frameworks: legality, transparency, accountability
- Research methods: interviews, document analysis, ethics, digital security
- Comparative research design
- Output: Country research protocols + stakeholder maps
Month 2: Field Research & Documentation
- Conducting interviews and managing sensitive conversations
- Analysing policies, contracts, and legislation
- Data management: transcription, coding, secure storage
- Mid-point peer review and reflection
- Output: Field notes, transcripts, preliminary findings
Month 3: Analysis & Translation
- Turning data into structured analysis
- Writing for advocacy: policy briefs, toolkits, public outputs
- Peer review and refinement
- Cross-country comparison and synthesis
- Output: Final case study + policy outputs
Fellows will contribute to:
- A DPI Research Report (country case studies + synthesis)
- A DPI Advocacy Toolkit
- Country Policy Briefs
- Press summaries & public messaging outputs
- Published opinion pieces
This fellowship is about ensuring that Africa’s digital future is built on:
- Justice
- Rights
- Inclussion
- Accountability
We are looking for:
- Early-career researchers
- Digital rights advocates
- Policy thinkers
- Anyone passionate about technology, governance, and justice in Africa
- Applications are now open for the DPI Governance in Africa Fellowship! https://fungaiafrica.org/🚨-call-for-fellows-dpi-governance-in-africa-fellowship-2026/
