Are you an ambitious African woman ready to make your mark in the world of Artificial Intelligence? The Idia Fellowship is your gateway to transforming ideas into innovation, impact, and influence.
AI is revolutionizing industries, from farming and healthcare to education and business, yet women remain underrepresented in this global movement. The Idia Fellowship is changing that narrative by empowering African women to lead the future of AI.
Through this 12-month immersive program, selected fellows will gain hands-on experience in AI research, innovation, and real-world problem-solving. You’ll collaborate with experts, build AI-driven solutions for business and maternal health, and create tools that drive socio-economic growth across Africa.
Applications are now open, step forward, seize this opportunity, and become part of the next generation of women shaping Africa’s AI revolution.
Program Description – Idia Fellowship
The Idia Fellowship occurs in two related phases:
Phase 1: Capacity Building
This phase provides knowledge, research tools, and confidence to the fellows to be at the spearhead of AI-driven initiatives.
The participants will be taken through AI literacy sessions, design thinking workshops, and hands-on data analysis and technology development training.
Phase 2: Application & Community Impact
In this phase, fellows will put learning into practice. They will engage in actual projects and also generate solutions collaboratively with developers and industry specialists.
Idia Fellowship Requirements
The Idia Fellowship also has various entry points to be inclusive in terms of career stages and fields. Academic, technology, health, and policy women are interested in applying.
Postdoctoral Entry Requirements
PhD in Computer Science, Health Informatics, Information Systems, Strategy, or related fields. And also have a proven track record in research and publications.
PhD Entry Requirements
Enrolled in a PhD program or accepted to one. Research interest in AI, tech innovation, or women’s livelihoods.
Masters Entry requirements
Master ‘s-level student or graduate in relevant fields. Also have a strong research and writing skills.
Software Development Entry requirements
Experience in software engineering, UX/UI design, or app development, and have interest in human-centred design.
Health Entry requirements
Have a background in maternal health, health informatics, or related fields.
Policy Entry requirements
Have experience in tech policy, gender policy, or public policy analysis.
Idia Fellowship Benefits
- The mentorship of global AI researchers, developers and innovators individually.
- Funding fieldwork, design prototyping and sharing research outputs.
- Availability of a global network of policymakers, researchers and technology specialists.
- Publication opportunities in the open-access and the presentation of results at the large conferences.
- The Fellows will develop tools that will empower improved livelihoods of women directly and create inclusive ecosystems of technology.
Program Duration
The fellowship is 12 months long, and well-organized milestones will be used to guarantee steady learning and results.
Month 1: Launch of fellowship, AI training, matching of mentors and planning of the project.
Months 2-3: Data collection and field research about the adoption of AI smartphones.
Month 4-5: Design- The design will include co-creation activities, the design of the prototype, and policy drafting.
Month 6: Opening and publication of findings.
Months 7-12: Support of implementation, more research, and further mentorship.
How to Apply for Idia Fellowship
Applications may be done by referring to the official fellowship portal
Application Portal: Apply Here.
It is advisable that full program details should be downloaded by the applicants prior to application. It will be a competitive selection, which will be based on academic merit, potential to lead and dedication to women-centred innovation.