Non-profits Code for Africa and Open Knowledge have combined to offer three fellowships to developers of open government or civil engagement solutions, offering seed funding of US$3,000 plus a monthly US$1,000 stipend to successful applicants.
Aside from the financial support, which also includes a travel budget to attend local and international events, the three fellows will gain access to workspace in Code for Africa affiliate civic technology labs across Africa and tech support from Code for Africa developers and data analysts.
Successful applicants will also be able to tap into Open Knowledge’s School of Data networks and resource kits as well as its global network of specialist communities.
“Do you want to help us build African governments and societies that are more accountable and responsive to citizens?” the partners said.
“We are looking for the best ideas for harnessing the power of digital technologies and open data, to improve the way that governments and citizens interact.”
The fellowships will last for six months, and are intended to empower pioneers already working in the open data or civic engagement communities. Successful fellows will only be expected to work part-time on their projects.
Initially run as a pilot, the scheme is initially limited to African countries where either Code for Africa or Open Knowledge have extensive resources or deep partnerships, meaning applications are invited from Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda.
Code for Africa and Open Knowledge said they hope to expand the initiative to include additional countries later in 2015.
Interested parties must apply before December 15, with the fellowships scheduled to start in February and run until July.
