Are you a journalist or fact-checker in Southern Africa ready to fight misinformation? The Code for Africa (CfA) Fellowships 2026 offer a chance to build skills and make a real impact. This program targets professionals who want to strengthen information integrity across the region.
Program Overview
Code for Africa, through its African Fact-checking Alliance (AFCA), runs these fellowships. They focus on the “Strengthening Information Integrity and Democratic Resilience in Southern Africa” project. This builds on earlier work from the “Detecting, Disrupting and Deplatforming Malign Actors” initiative, funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The 2026-2027 phase will run for six months. CfA plans to select six fellows. These people will create fact-checking articles to expose harmful misinformation and disinformation. Fellows get hands-on training to investigate and debunk false claims.
Eligible Countries
You must live and work in one of these Southern African countries:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Who Can Apply
CfA has clear rules for applicants. You need at least one year of experience as a journalist or digital storyteller. Show a portfolio of published work. Fact-checking experience helps your chances.
Other key points:
- Stay non-partisan and avoid ties to paramilitary or security groups.
- Work with a media partner to publish or broadcast your stories.
- Speak English or French fluently, based on your country’s main language.
- Own a reliable computer with steady internet for online training and meetings.
- Commit to sharing skills with your team and publishing work publicly.
- Join virtual meetings as needed.
CfA can help with media partnerships if required.
Benefits and Support
Fellows receive a stipend for six months. They get editorial training and mentoring from teams at PesaCheck, iLAB, and AFCA. This includes one-on-one guidance from fact-checkers, analysts, technologists, data experts, and editors.
Extra perks:
- Technical training to start or improve fact-checking desks in newsrooms.
- Help to publish stories locally and internationally.
- Tools to spread new skills inside your organization.
How to Apply
Visit the official webpage for full details and the application form. Submit before the deadline on 10 April 2026. Prepare your portfolio and check all requirements first. This fellowship equips you to protect democracy through better fact-checking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Code for Africa Fellowships 2026 program?
It is a six-month program by Code for Africa through the African Fact-checking Alliance that trains six fellows to create fact-checking articles and combat misinformation in Southern Africa.
Which countries can apply for the fellowships?
Eligible countries include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
What are the main eligibility requirements?
Applicants need at least one year of journalism or digital storytelling experience, a portfolio of published work, fluency in English or French, a reliable computer and internet, and must work with a media partner.
How do I apply and what benefits are offered?
Visit the official webpage to submit your application before 10 April 2026. Fellows get a stipend, editorial training, mentoring, technical support, and help publishing stories.
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