Call for Application: 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship ($1,500 stipend available)

Applications are now open for the 2025 CSEA Africa’s Data Future Fellowship. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.

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About Africa’s Data Future Fellowship

Opportunity Details

  • Date Published: July 11, 2025
  • Application Deadline: July 30, 2025
  • Category: Fellowship
  • Eligible Locations: Africa

The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship is a dynamic 3-month remote capacity-building programme for emerging leaders in the African data governance landscape. Organised by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), the fellowship equips early-career professionals and changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship to influence data governance and digital transformation across Africa.

For the 2025 cohort, 5 fellows will be selected from each sub-region across the continent. At the end of the fellowship, each fellow will be required to develop a policy brief on one of the fellowship themes and present their findings at a dedicated workshop.

Fellowship Structure
The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship will focus on the following thematic areas:

  • Data Sharing
  • Ethical Data Stewardship
  • Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Interoperability Standards & APIs
  • AI Governance & Responsible Innovation

Cross-Border Data Flows

Fellowship duration: 3 months (Starting in mid-August)

Geographic Representation: 

  • 1 fellow per African sub-region (North, West, East, Central, and Southern). Francophone candidates with intermediate English proficiency are also encouraged to apply. 
  • Mode of delivery: Virtual
  • Commitment: Bi-weekly virtual expert brainstorming sessions
  • Language: English and French

Expected Outcome
Upon completion of the fellowship, fellows are required to develop a detailed policy brief on one of the fellowship’s thematic areas and present their work at a dedicated workshop.

Benefits of Africa’s Data Future Fellowship

A stipend of a total of $1,500 upon successful completion of the fellowship
-Bi-weekly virtual masterclasses and expert sessions with sector leaders
-Fellows’ work featured on CSEA’s platforms
-Pan-African professional network

Africa’s Data Future Fellowship Requirements

The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship is open to:
-A postgraduate degree and at least one year of professional experience in social sciences, law, technology, data policy, or related fields
-Applicants from any sub-region of Africa (North, West, East, Central, Southern) 
-Applicants with demonstrated interest and experience in data governance, digital policy, and/or technology
-Applicants should be able to commit 2 hours per week for the duration of the fellowship.
-Access to a reliable internet connection and a functional computer is required for participation.

Application Date and Process

The fellowship is granted through a competitive process based on the application submitted by qualified candidates. All applications should be sent via the online application system and submitted in English.

Applicants are expected to submit:
-A completed application form
-A 2-page CV 
-Statement of interest (200 words max)
-Problem statement on a data governance challenge in your sub-region related to any of the thematic areas highlighted above (300 words max)
-A writing sample (e.g., policy brief or research paper)

For enquiries, contact: [email protected].

Application Deadline

30 July, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

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