Code for Africa Fellowships 2026: Fight Misinformation in Southern Africa
Code for Africa launches fellowships to fight misinformation in Southern Africa.
Journalists and fact-checkers in Southern Africa have a new chance to build skills against fake news. The Code for Africa (CfA) Fellowships 2026 offer training and support to tackle misinformation and disinformation. This program runs through the African Fact-checking Alliance (AFCA) and aims to boost information integrity across the region.
Program Overview
The CfA Fellowships 2026 come from the “Strengthening Information Integrity and Democratic Resilience in Southern Africa” project. This builds on earlier work called “Detecting, Disrupting and Deplatforming Malign Actors,” funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 2026-2027 phase will help journalists create fact-checking stories that expose harmful false information. Six fellows will join for six months and publish their work in mainstream media.
Who Can Apply
Applicants need to meet clear rules to join. They must live in one of these countries: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, or Zimbabwe. Candidates should have at least one year of experience as journalists or digital storytellers, with a portfolio of published work. Fact-checking experience is a plus.
Other key points include being non-partisan and not linked to paramilitary or security groups. Fellows must work with a media partner and speak English or French, based on their country’s language. They need a reliable computer and steady internet for online training and meetings. Selected people must share their new skills with colleagues and publish work on public platforms.
Training and Support Offered
Fellows get hands-on help from experts. PesaCheck, iLAB, and AFCA teams provide editorial training and one-on-one mentoring. This covers fact-checking, investigative analysis, data work, multimedia production, and editing. Participants learn to start or improve fact-checking desks in their newsrooms.
CfA offers stipends for the six-month period. They also assist with publishing stories locally and internationally. Fellows commit to producing fact-checking articles on regional misinformation issues.
Application Details
The deadline is 10 April 2026. Applications are open now for these stipend-based spots. Check the official webpage for full details and to apply: Visit the Official Webpage of the Code for Africa (CfA) Fellowships. CfA will help with media partnerships if needed. This program strengthens democracy by training fact-checkers to fight disinformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Code for Africa Fellowships 2026?
Journalists and fact-checkers from Angola, Botswana, Comoros, and other Southern African countries with at least one year of experience and a portfolio can apply. They must be non-partisan, have a media partner, and access to a computer and internet.
What training and support do fellows receive?
Fellows get hands-on training in fact-checking, data analysis, multimedia production, and editing from experts like PesaCheck and AFCA. They also receive stipends, mentoring, and help publishing stories.
How long is the fellowship program?
The program lasts six months, during which six fellows will create and publish fact-checking stories on misinformation in mainstream media.
What is the application deadline for the fellowships?
Applications are due by 10 April 2026. Visit the official Code for Africa webpage to apply and learn more details.