Deadline: 19 June 2025
Code for Africa (CfA) is offering five Mythbusters part-time fellowships to community influencers in Southern Africa. During the three-month fellowship, fellows will serve as messengers to advance information resilience in these target communities by improving access to factual information. These fellowships are part of a joint initiative between CfA and the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs to strengthen information integrity through detecting, disrupting and deplatforming malign actors in Southern Africa.
The fellowship aims to protect inclusive democracy and human rights in the digital age. It leverages digital technologies to strengthen democracy with an emphasis on climate and LGBTQI+ issues in the following countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Successful applicants will work with CfA’s forensic investigation team, iLAB, and the PesaCheck team to share evidence-based information designed to prevent information manipulation in their communities. The fellows will use their visual storytelling skills or significant social media presence to share the investigative findings. They will produce short, engaging content in graphic, audio, or video formats, primarily in local languages.
Academy Africa will train fellows on fact-checking, ethics, and accuracy in reporting, and a team of international experts and investigative analysts from iLAB and social media engagement professionals from CfA’s Engagement team will mentor them. Fellows will develop the skills to recognise manipulative claims and demand reliable information from the media and watchdog civil society organisations.
The fellowship programme will include:
Training and mentoring: CfA will provide the fellows with advanced training and mentoring in media and social media monitoring.
Networking: Fellows will be part of the Congress for Peace (COPP) influencers network and will be invited to speak at network events or present at major continental conferences.
Stipend: Fellows will receive a competitive monthly stipend to aid in attending training and mentorship sessions.
Are you eligible?
The Mythbusters Fellowship seeks to empower nano- and micro-influencers in the target countries to become champions of information integrity. These influencers will use their digital platforms to highlight the dangers of manipulative content in the target countries. Their role involves leading local discussions on the harmful impact of misleading information on the two main fellowship themes.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- You must be non-partisan, with no ties to government agencies, paramilitary organisations, political parties, state-
- You must be a social media influencer with a large following that actively engages with your content, including in live social media discussions. We will give priority to trusted local messengers working as nano- or macro-influencers. affiliated media, or other bodies that may create the perception of partisanship during elections.
- You must commit to publishing/disseminating your content on your social media accounts.
- You must be fluent in either English or French.
- You must have access to a reliable laptop or desktop computer with stable internet connectivity to participate in programme activities and online courses/mentoring.
- You must commit to sharing your new skills and knowledge in your organisation, with your followers, and with the wider journalism/research community, by showcasing your projects and techniques to your peers.
- You must be available for virtual training and mentorship sessions.
To apply, please fill out this form.
Questions? Reach out to mitchelle.awuor@codeforafrica.org and hadeye.toure@codeforafrica.org.
