The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship, a three-month remote capacity-building programme designed to shape the next generation of African data governance leaders.
This fellowship aims to equip early-career professionals and changemakers with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship needed to drive data governance and digital transformation across the continent. Fellows will be selected from each of Africa’s sub-regions—North, West, East, Central, and Southern Africa.
Fellowship Focus Areas
The 2025 cohort will explore six key thematic areas:
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Data Sharing
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Ethical Data Stewardship
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Digital Public Infrastructure
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Interoperability Standards & APIs
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AI Governance & Responsible Innovation
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Cross-Border Data Flows
What Fellows Will Gain
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A $1,500 stipend upon successful completion of the programme
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Access to bi-weekly virtual masterclasses and expert sessions led by sector leaders
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An opportunity to have your work featured on CSEA’s platforms, gaining visibility across the continent
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
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Hold a postgraduate degree in social sciences, law, technology, data policy, or a related field.
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Have at least one year of professional experience.
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Demonstrate interest or experience in data governance, digital policy, or technology.
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Be from any of Africa’s five sub-regions.
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Francophone candidates with intermediate English proficiency are encouraged to apply.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following in English via the online application form:
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A completed application form.
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A 2-page CV.
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A statement of interest (maximum 200 words).
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A problem statement (maximum 300 words) addressing a data governance challenge in your sub-region, linked to one of the thematic areas.
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A writing sample (e.g., policy brief or research paper).
Application Deadline: July 30, 2025
The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship. This is a three-month remote program aimed at developing the next generation of data governance leaders in Africa. The fellowship targets early-career professionals from various African sub-regions—North, West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, equipping them with essential skills, knowledge, and mentorship to advance data governance and digital transformation across the continent.
The program focuses on six key thematic areas: Data Sharing, Ethical Data Stewardship, Digital Public Infrastructure, Interoperability Standards & APIs, AI Governance & Responsible Innovation, and Cross-Border Data Flows. Fellows will gain a $1,500 stipend upon completion, access to virtual masterclasses led by industry experts, and the opportunity to have their work featured on CSEA's platforms, increasing their visibility.
Eligibility criteria include holding a postgraduate degree in relevant fields, having at least one year of professional experience, and interest in data governance, digital policy, or technology. Applicants must be from an African sub-region and Francophone candidates with intermediate English proficiency are encouraged to apply. Application requirements include an online form, a 2-page CV, a statement of interest, a problem statement related to data governance in their sub-region, and a writing sample, all submitted by the deadline of July 30, 2025.
