CSEA Africa’s 2025 Data Future Fellowship for early-career professionals ($1,500 stipend)

July 11, 2025
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Bursary Description


Application Deadline: 30 July 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 CSEA Africa’s Data Future Fellowship. The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship is a dynamic 3-month remote capacity-building programme for emerging leaders in the African data governance landscape. Organised by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), the fellowship equips early-career professionals and changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship to influence data governance and digital transformation across Africa.

For the 2025 cohort, 5 fellows will be selected from each sub-region across the continent. At the end of the fellowship, each fellow will be required to develop a policy brief on one of the fellowship themes and present their findings at a dedicated workshop.

Fellowship Structure
The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship will focus on the following thematic areas:

  • Data Sharing
  • Ethical Data Stewardship
  • Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Interoperability Standards & APIs
  • AI Governance & Responsible Innovation
  • Cross-Border Data Flows

    Fellowship duration: 3 months (Starting in mid-August)

    Geographic Representation:

  • 1 fellow per African sub-region (North, West, East, Central, and Southern). Francophone candidates with intermediate English proficiency are also encouraged to apply. 
  • Mode of delivery: Virtual
  • Commitment: Bi-weekly virtual expert brainstorming sessions
  • Language: English and French

Eligibility Criteria
The 2025 Africa’s Data Future Fellowship is open to:

  • A postgraduate degree and at least one year of professional experience in social sciences, law, technology, data policy, or related fields
  • Applicants from any sub-region of Africa (North, West, East, Central, Southern) 
  • Applicants with demonstrated interest and experience in data governance, digital policy, and/or technology
  • Applicants should be able to commit 2 hours per week for the duration of the fellowship.
  • Access to a reliable internet connection and a functional computer is required for participation

Fellowship Benefits

  • A stipend of a total of $1,500 upon successful completion of the fellowship
  • Bi-weekly virtual masterclasses and expert sessions with sector leaders
  • Fellows’ work featured on CSEA’s platforms
  • Pan-African professional network

Application Procedure:


The fellowship is granted through a competitive process based on the application submitted by qualified candidates. All applications should be sent via the online application system and submitted in English.
Applicants are expected to submit:

  • A completed application form
  • A 2-page CV 
  • Statement of interest (200 words max)
  • Problem statement on a data governance challenge in your sub-region related to any of the thematic areas highlighted above (300 words max)
  • A writing sample (e.g., policy brief or research paper)

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the CSEA Africa’s Data Future Fellowship