African Union (AU) Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program 2026

Deadline: Feb 28, 2026

other

12 months (duration)

partially funded

Africa

To Apply

Please visit the application link below to apply.

Opportunity Overview

📝 About the AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program

The African Union (AU) Digital & Innovation Fellowship is a 12-month immersive program designed to empower Africa’s brightest digital innovators to work within AU institutions.

🎁 Benefits of the Fellowship Program

Capacity building and skill development
Structured capacity building and professional development tailored to the needs of African youth working in technology, data, and innovation. Fellows strengthen both technical and professional skills relevant to digital transformation, public sector innovation, and data-driven decision-making.
Immersive institutional experience
Fellows gain hands-on experience by working closely with AU staff to co-develop data-driven and technology-enabled solutions. This approach addresses challenges within AU systems and contributes to improved governance, public service delivery, and institutional capacity.
Financial barrier-free pathway
- Monthly stipend of 2500 Euros throughout the 12-month period.
- Access to an in-kind equipment budget of up to 800 Euros.
- Individual learning budget of 500 Euros for upskilling during the program.
International and continental exposure
Fellows participate in two on-ground, interactive bootcamps in Addis Ababa and a mid-term delegation trip to Germany. This provides exposure to diverse stakeholders, policy actors, and partners across Africa and Europe.
Institutional impact and knowledge transfer
Fellows actively contribute to sustainable institutional change by embedding knowledge, tools, and digital practices within AU systems. Their work ensures long-term value beyond the program duration.

✅ Fellowship Requirements

To be eligible for the AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program, applicants must:

Be a citizen of an African Union member state and currently based in Africa.
Be under 35 years old at the time of application.
Hold a tertiary education degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
Demonstrate problem-solving skills and the ability to propose innovative, technology-driven solutions.
Have experience in designing or implementing technology products or data-driven projects, including familiarity with relevant technical tools or stacks.
Be able to commit 12 months to the fellowship, including relocation to Addis Ababa.
Be willing and able to travel for bootcamps, delegation trips, and program activities.
Be sufficiently proficient in English to actively participate; proficiency in another AU official language (Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or Swahili) is strongly encouraged.

📅 Application Date and Process

Application Deadline: 28 February, 2026
Visit the AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program Application Portal to apply.

🌐 Contact Information

For more details, visit the AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program page.

This fellowship is an incredible opportunity to contribute to digital transformation and innovation within the African Union while gaining valuable professional and international experience. Apply now!

Benefits

Capacity building and skill development
Immersive institutional experience
Financial barrier-free pathway
International and continental exposure
Institutional impact and knowledge transfer

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