Code for Africa Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026: Opportunities for Southern Africa Journalists
Are you a journalist in Southern Africa ready to fight misinformation? The Code for Africa Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026 offers a chance to gain skills, mentorship, and a stipend while strengthening truth in your community.
Code for Africa (CfA), through its African Fact-checking Alliance (AFCA), runs this program. It targets journalists and fact-checkers in the region. The goal is to build skills for spotting and debunking false information. This helps protect democratic processes.
The fellowship ties into the “Strengthening Information Integrity and Democratic Resilience in Southern Africa” project. This builds on earlier work from 2024-2025, backed by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new phase runs from 2026 to 2027. It expands efforts to counter malign actors spreading lies online and offline.
Key Benefits for Fellows
Fellows get real support to grow their work. Each one receives a monthly stipend to cover basics during the program.
Hands-on training comes from experts. This includes PesaCheck’s fact-checking team, iLAB analysts, and CfA staff like technologists, data experts, multimedia producers, and editors. Mentorship is one-on-one, so you get personal guidance.
The program also helps set up or improve CheckDesks in your newsroom. These are dedicated spots for fact-checking stories. You publish your projects on your own media platforms. CfA assists with sharing them internationally for wider reach.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Rules
Not everyone qualifies, but if you fit, it’s a great fit. You must avoid ties to paramilitary or security groups. Stay non-partisan in your work.
You need at least one year in media as a journalist or digital storyteller. Show a portfolio of published pieces. Fact-checking experience helps but is not required.
Work with a media partner. Your stories must appear in mainstream outlets. Speak English or French fluently, based on your country’s main language.
Own a reliable computer with steady internet. This lets you join online training and meetings. Live in one of the target 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.
Commit to sharing your work publicly. CfA can help with partnerships if needed. Also, pass on new skills to your team. Be ready for virtual meetings.
Focus on Southern Africa
The Code for Africa Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026 zeros in on Southern Africa. This region faces rising misinformation, especially around elections and social issues. Countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique see heavy online falsehoods.
By training locals, the program builds lasting change. Fellows create fact-checks that reach audiences in local languages. This fights disinformation at its source. Past phases showed success, with more CheckDesks now active.
How the Program Works
Once selected, you dive into training. Learn tools to verify claims, analyze data, and spot fake images or videos. Mentors guide your projects from start to finish.
You produce fact-checks on real topics, like election rumors or health myths. Publish them where your audience lives: newspapers, TV, radio, or online. CfA helps amplify through networks.
Share what you learn with colleagues. This spreads skills across newsrooms. The stipend keeps you focused without money worries.
Application Steps and Deadline
Act fast. The deadline is April 10, 2026. Late entries get no review.
Apply online via the form at forms.gle/gGQJLNxQXThJYZhv5. Gather your portfolio first. Include links to published work.
For details, check the full call at CfA/AFCA Fact-checking Fellowship page.
Prepare a strong case. Explain your experience, why fact-checking matters to you, and how you’ll use the training. Selectees get notified soon after.
This fellowship equips you to lead on truth. Southern Africa’s media needs voices like yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Code for Africa Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026?
Journalists or digital storytellers from Southern African countries with at least one year of media experience, a portfolio of published work, reliable internet, and no ties to partisan or security groups.
What benefits do fellows receive?
Fellows get a monthly stipend, hands-on training from experts, one-on-one mentorship, and support to set up or improve fact-checking CheckDesks in their newsrooms.
How does the program work?
Selected fellows join virtual training to learn verification tools, produce fact-checks on real topics under mentor guidance, publish them on their platforms, and share skills with their teams.
What is the application deadline and how do I apply?
The deadline is April 10, 2026; apply online via the form at forms.gle/gGQJLNxQXThJYZhv5 with your portfolio and a statement on your experience and goals.