Apply for the Idia Fellowship 2026: Co‑Designing AI with Women for Better Livelihoods
About the Idia Fellowship
The Idia Fellowship has been established to tackle the underrepresentation of women in AI research and policy-making across Africa. It aims to empower exceptional women scholars to contribute not only through research and design, but also by influencing the direction of AI tools and technologies so they address real needs in business, maternal health, and socio‑economic growth.
Over a 12‑month period, fellows will examine how AI‑enabled smartphones affect the lives of women entrepreneurs and mothers, and then generate actionable design recommendations that ensure AI innovations are inclusive, accessible, culturally sensitive, and formally grounded in local contexts.
Why It Matter
Artificial Intelligence is transforming agriculture, health, education, and commerce across the continent. Despite this, women are significantly underrepresented in shaping that transformation.
Many AI tools are developed without sufficient understanding of how they interact with women’s roles, responsibilities, constraints, and everyday lives—especially in less urban, more resource‑constrained settings. The Idia Fellowship bridges this gap, strengthening local leadership, amplifying women’s voices, and ensuring the next generation of AI tools are genuinely responsive to women’s lived realities.
Fellowship Structure: Two Phases of Impact
The Idia Fellowship operates in two interlinked phases designed to build both capacity and community impact:
Phase I: Capacity Building
- Equip 20 women with foundational skills in using maternal health and business applications on smartphones.
- Research and document how usability, accessibility, cost, and cultural compatibility affect adoption.
- Identify barriers and opportunities for women in adopting AI tools.
Phase II: Application and Community Impact
- Host co‑creation workshops bringing together women, developers, and experts.
- Develop prototypes such as offline health chatbots or business dashboards.
- Produce design guidelines, policy briefs, and stakeholder recommendations grounded in research findings.
Track Opportunities & Entry Requirements
The fellowship offers diverse tracks to accommodate women at different career stages and expertise areas. These include:
| Track | Number of Positions | Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral | 1 position | PhD completed in Computer Science, Information Systems, Health Informatics, Strategy, or related field; strong publication record. |
| PhD Level | 2 positions | Enrolled in or accepted to a PhD program; research interest in AI, innovation, or livelihoods. |
| Master’s Level | 2 positions | Master’s student or graduate with strong research and writing skills. |
| Software Development | 2 positions | Experience in software engineering, UX/UI design or app development; interest in human‑centred design. |
| Health | 2 positions | Background in maternal health, health informatics, or related disciplines. |
| Policy | 1 position | Experience or interest in tech policy, gender policy, or public policy research. |
Fellowship Benefits
Idia Fellows will receive comprehensive support throughout the fellowship, including:
- Training and mentorship in AI literacy, human‑centred design, research methods, and innovation.
- Funding for field research, prototyping, community engagements, and dissemination of findings.
- Access to a global network of AI experts, technologists, policymakers, and scholars.
- Support for publishing open‑access case studies, reports, and policy briefs.
- Opportunities to guide and advocate for equitable technology design, especially in under‑served communities.
Timeline & Key Milestones
The fellowship spans twelve months and follows a structured timeline with built‑in phases and deliverables:
- Month 1: Program launch, orientation, AI training, mentor matching, and research planning.
- Months 2–3: Field research to assess usability, access, cultural fit, and identify obstacles.
- Months 4–5: Co‑creation and design of prototypes; drafting of policy briefs and guidelines.
- Month 6: Public showcase of research findings, prototypes, and stakeholder engagement.
- Months 7–12: Implementation of prototypes, iterative feedback, additional research, ongoing mentorship, and dissemination of results to broader policy and tech communities.
Expected Outcomes
At the end of the fellowship, outcomes are anticipated in three areas:
- Evidence & Insights
Generate well‑documented research into what helps or hinders women’s adoption of AI tools in business and maternal health contexts. - Prototypes & Policy Guidance
Deliver functional prototypes for AI tools and produce policy recommendations that can be adopted by designers, tech companies, development partners, and governments. - Leadership & Advocacy Capacity
Strengthen fellows’ skills in persuasion, publication, ethics, and advocacy so they can influence technology debates and deployment in Africa.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants should prepare a complete application in the relevant track, including CV, proposal or research statement (depending on track), examples of prior work or interest, and references. Applications will be judged based on clarity of research idea, alignment with women’s livelihoods, capacity to deliver, and potential for impact.
Exact deadlines, application portal link, and further guidelines will be provided in the full program details document.
Invitation to Transform AI in Africa
The Idia Fellowship offers a rare chance to help redefine how AI is designed and implemented across Africa—making it inclusive, equitable, and grounded in real lived experience. Researchers and women technologists who are ready to contribute to transformative, actionable change are encouraged to apply and build tools that serve everyone.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hosting 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.
