CivicHive CivicTech Fellowship Program 2026 for early-stage Civic innovators (Monthly Stipend)

3.1K

Application Deadline: February 11, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 CivicHive CivicTech Fellowship Program. The fellowship is an incubation programme designed to support early-stage civic tech ideas and solutions. We welcome ideas at any stage and scale—from local and hyperlocal initiatives to regional platforms—and encourage diverse uses of technology, including radio, SMS, print,  artificial intelligence, and social media.

Thematic Areas

• Artificial Intelligence for Good: Civic tech solutions that use AI responsibly to address social challenges, strengthen accountability, mitigate bias and harm, and contribute to transparent, inclusive, and effective governance of AI systems.
• Low-Cost Climate Tech Solutions: Affordable, tech-driven solutions addressing climate adaptation, agriculture, environmental management, food security, and community resilience, particularly in local and resource-constrained contexts.
• 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 accountability and equitable outcomes.
• **Advocacy and Social Movements:**Tools that strengthen advocacy, civic organising, collective action, and citizen-led movements, especially in shrinking civic spaces and contexts facing repression or exclusion.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to the CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship must meet the following criteria:

• Be citizens or residents of any West African country,
• Be individuals or teams working on a civic tech idea or solution,
• Must have tested the idea or been in operation for 1-3 years.
• The solution must align with one or more of the fellowship’s thematic areas.
• Demonstrate a clear public-interest or social impact focus, particularly in strengthening civic space, accountability, participation, or service delivery,
• Be available to fully participate in the fellowship activities for the duration of the programme,
• Be open to mentorship, peer learning, iteration, and collaboration within a regional civic tech ecosystem.

Benefits

The CivicHive Civic Tech Fellowship will incubate 15 civic tech solutions 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 fellowship
• Support to prepare solutions for launch and early scaling
• Paid trip to attend the 2026 West Africa Civic Tech Conference

Application Timeline

• January 23, 2026: Applications open
• February 11, 2026: Applications Closes
• February 23, 2026: Fellows Announcement
• March 3 – June 30, 2026: Fellowship Program
• March 31 – April 16, 2026: Lab Sessions
• July 23, 2026: Demo Day

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the CivicHive CivicTech Fellowship Program