CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship (West Africa) The CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship is a 20-week incubation and implementation programme designed to support early-stage civic innovators building tech-enabled solutions to pressing social challenges across West Africa. The fellowship provides a structured pathway for innovators to refine ideas, develop sustainable civic products, and strengthen democratic participation, accountability, and public service delivery. About the Fellowship Nigeria is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing youth populations, and across West Africa, civic technology has emerged as a powerful catalyst for social change. Civic tech leverages both digital and non-digital tools to bridge gaps between governments and citizens, expand civic space, and strengthen democratic engagement. The CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship exists to identify, nurture, and support the next generation of civic tech leaders responding to these challenges. The programme welcomes ideas at any stage and scale, from local and hyperlocal initiatives to regional platforms, and supports diverse technologies including radio, SMS, print, artificial intelligence, and social media. Selection prioritises solutions with: Clear impact on people and civic spaces Strong potential for sustainability and long-term public value Founders who demonstrate commitment, resilience, and a compelling vision for change Track Record Over the past five years, CivicHive has supported 34 fellows who have built impactful civic products across multiple sectors. Alumni projects such as Gavel, Amplify, and Flemer Project have secured partnerships with global organisations and consistently cite CivicHive’s training as instrumental to their growth. Other notable alumni include: GenderMobile PROMAD PolicyShapers JusticePadi Urban Alert These initiatives continue to shape civic engagement, transparency, and accountability across the region. From Nigeria to West Africa Building on insights from the West Africa Civic Tech Landscape Report and the growing momentum of civic innovation across the region, the CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship has expanded beyond Nigeria and is now open to applicants from all West African countries. This expansion reflects CivicHive’s commitment to: Strengthening regional civic tech ecosystems Enabling cross-border learning and collaboration Supporting shared problem-solving across civic contexts Thematic Areas The fellowship supports civic tech solutions aligned with one or more of the following areas: Artificial Intelligence for GoodResponsible AI solutions that address social challenges, strengthen accountability, mitigate bias and harm, and promote transparent and inclusive AI governance. Low-Cost Climate Tech SolutionsAffordable technologies focused on climate adaptation, agriculture, environmental management, food security, and community resilience, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Technology for Social Good (Health, Education, and Justice)Civic innovations that improve access to essential public services, protect rights, close service delivery gaps, and empower citizens to demand equitable outcomes. Advocacy and Social MovementsTools that support advocacy, civic organising, collective action, and citizen-led movements, especially in shrinking civic spaces or contexts facing repression or exclusion. Fellowship Benefits and Support The fellowship will incubate 15 civic tech solutions from across West Africa. Selected fellows will receive: Technical, product, and legal support Mentorship from experienced civic tech leaders Access to a regional civic tech network A monthly stipend throughout the programme Support to prepare solutions for launch and early-stage scaling A fully funded trip to attend the 2026 West Africa Civic Tech Conference Eligibility Criteria Applicants must meet the following requirements: Be citizens or residents of any West African country Apply as individuals or teams working on a civic tech idea or solution Have tested the idea or been operational for one to three years Align with at least one of the fellowship’s thematic areas Demonstrate a clear public-interest or social-impact focus, particularly in civic space, accountability, participation, or service delivery Be available to fully participate throughout the fellowship period Be open to mentorship, peer learning, iteration, and regional collaboration Key Dates January 23, 2026: Applications open February 11, 2026: Applications close February 23, 2026: Fellows announced March 3 – June 30, 2026: Fellowship programme March 31 – April 16, 2026: Lab sessions July 23, 2026: Demo Day Inquiries For further information, inquiries can be sent to Fellowship@civichive.org. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities GSO) is not the official organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.