Idia Fellowship Program 2025 for African Women in Tech and AI

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Idia Fellowship Program 2025 for African Women in Tech and AI

Application Deadline: November 1, 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 Idia Fellowship Program, an empowering initiative designed to equip African women with the skills, resources, and networks to drive meaningful innovation at the intersection of technology, AI, and social impact.

Over a 12-month journey, selected fellows will explore how AI-enabled smartphones are transforming the lives of women entrepreneurs and mothers across Africa. The fellowship aims to generate actionable design recommendations to ensure that digital technologies are not only inclusive but practical, ethical, and transformative for communities.

Program Overview

The Idia Fellowship strengthens local leadership and amplifies women’s voices in shaping Africa’s digital future through a two-phase, hands-on approach.

Phase 1: Capacity Building

Fellows will receive intensive training in AI literacy, research methodology, and leadership. This phase focuses on empowering women with the tools and confidence to lead in tech spaces and community innovation.

Phase 2: Application & Community Impact

Fellows will apply their knowledge to real-world projects—co-designing inclusive, AI-driven solutions that address barriers faced by women in health, business, and technology access.

Program Structure

Phase I: Empowering Women with Smartphones

  • Support 20 women in using maternal health and business apps.

  • Investigate usability, accessibility, affordability, and cultural relevance.

  • Identify key challenges and opportunities in AI-powered solutions.

Phase II: Crafting Inclusive Tools

  • Conduct co-creation workshops with women, developers, and experts.

  • Prototype inclusive solutions such as offline health chatbots and AI business dashboards.

  • Deliver practical design guidelines and policy briefs for governments, NGOs, and tech companies.

Fellowship Tracks & Eligibility

The program offers multiple entry tracks for women at different stages of their academic or professional journey:

  • Postdoctoral (1 position): PhD in Computer Science, Information Systems, Health Informatics, Strategy, or related fields.

  • PhD (2 positions): Enrolled in or accepted to a PhD program; research focus in AI, innovation, or women’s livelihoods.

  • Master’s (2 positions): Graduate or current Master’s student with strong research and writing skills.

  • Software Development (2 positions): Background in UX/UI, software engineering, or app development.

  • Health (2 positions): Experience in maternal health, public health, or health technology.

  • Policy (1 position): Expertise in tech, gender, or public policy analysis.

Benefits

  • Training & Mentorship: Gain hands-on training in AI, research methods, and design thinking.

  • Research Funding: Receive financial support for fieldwork, prototypes, and project dissemination.

  • Global Networking: Join a community of AI professionals, innovators, and policymakers.

  • Publication & Advocacy: Publish open-access research and develop policy briefs that shape inclusive AI development.

  • Impact-Driven Experience: Lead projects that directly empower women in Africa’s digital transformation.

Program Timeline

  • Month 1: Program launch, training, and mentor matching.

  • Months 2–3: Field research and AI usability testing.

  • Months 4–5: Co-creation and prototype design.

  • Month 6: Showcase and dissemination of findings.

  • Months 7–12: Continued implementation, mentorship, and scaling impact.

Expected Outcomes

  • Evidence & Insights: Produce research-backed insights on women’s experiences with AI.

  • Prototypes & Policy Briefs: Develop actionable solutions and recommendations for inclusive tech policy.

  • Leadership & Advocacy: Cultivate women leaders driving ethical and inclusive AI development across Africa.

For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Idia Fellowship Program

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