Code for Africa Fellowships 2026: Combat Misinformation in Southern Africa

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 gain skills and tools to debunk false information. This program targets professionals in the region to build stronger information integrity.

Overview of the Fellowships

Code for Africa, through its African Fact-checking Alliance (AFCA), runs these fellowships. They are part of the “Strengthening Information Integrity and Democratic Resilience in Southern Africa” project. This builds on earlier work from the “Detecting, Disrupting and Deplatforming Malign Actors” project, funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 2026-2027 phase will award six stipend-based fellowships. Each lasts six months. Fellows will create fact-checking articles that highlight harmful misinformation and disinformation in Southern Africa.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet clear criteria to join. They cannot work for paramilitary or security groups and must stay non-partisan. Candidates need at least one year of media experience as journalists or digital storytellers, plus a portfolio of published work.

Fact-checking experience is preferred. Fellows must link to a media partner and publish in mainstream outlets. Fluency in English or French is required, based on the country’s main language.

Other needs include a reliable computer, stable internet for online activities, and residence in one of the focus 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.

Fellows commit to sharing work publicly, with CfA help on partnerships. They also agree to teach skills to peers and join virtual meetings.

What Do Fellows Gain?

Selected participants receive strong support. They get editorial training and mentoring from PesaCheck, iLAB, and AFCA teams. Hands-on technical training comes from fact-checkers, analysts, technologists, data experts, multimedia producers, and editors.

Fellows can improve or start CheckDesks in their newsrooms. Publishing help includes local platforms and international outlets. Stipends cover the six-month period.

Application Details

Applications opened recently. The deadline is 10 April 2026. Check the official webpage for full steps and to submit your portfolio. This program helps strengthen democracy by training fact-checkers across Southern Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Code for Africa Fellowships 2026?

These are six-month stipend-based fellowships for journalists and fact-checkers in Southern Africa to create articles debunking misinformation, run by Code for Africa through the African Fact-checking Alliance.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants need at least one year of media experience, a portfolio of published work, fact-checking skills preferred, and must live in one of 16 focus countries like South Africa or Zambia, with reliable internet and a computer.

What support do fellows get?

Fellows receive editorial training, mentoring from experts, technical skills workshops, help with publishing, and a stipend for six months.

When is the application deadline?

Applications are open now and close on 10 April 2026; visit the official webpage to submit your portfolio and details.