Digital Resilience Fellowship 2026 – Call for Applications @Call for Applications

The Defenders Protection Initiative has announced the Digital Resilience Fellowship 2025–2026, a targeted initiative aimed at strengthening digital safety among grassroots human rights defenders and civil society actors in Uganda. This programme responds to the growing need for secure digital practices in environments where civic actors face increasing online threats.

Programme Overview

The Digital Resilience Fellowship is designed to build practical digital security capacity among individuals working on the frontlines of human rights, governance, and civic engagement. As digital risks such as surveillance, hacking, and online harassment become more prevalent, the fellowship equips participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to protect themselves and their organisations.

The programme focuses on creating a ripple effect, where fellows not only enhance their own digital resilience but also transfer these critical skills to their teams and communities.

Key Objectives

The fellowship aims to:

• Strengthen digital safety practices among civil society actors
• Build organisational resilience against cyber threats
• Promote secure communication and data protection
• Develop a network of trained digital security advocates

By targeting individuals embedded within organisations, the programme ensures that knowledge gained is institutionalised and shared widely.

Fellowship Structure and Benefits

Participants selected for the programme will engage in an intensive and practical learning experience.

Key components include:

• An 8-week structured mentorship programme
• One-on-one pairing with mentors from the Digital Security Alliance
• Hands-on technical support and guidance

Areas of training include:

• Device and endpoint security
• Secure communication tools and practices
• Account protection and password management
• Data backup and recovery strategies
• Incident response and threat mitigation

Fellows will also be supported in applying these skills within their organisations and sharing knowledge with their wider communities.

Target Audience

The fellowship is specifically designed for individuals actively engaged in civil society and community-based work.

Eligible applicants include those who:

• Work within a civil society organisation or grassroots initiative
• Are involved in:
  • Human rights advocacy
  • Environmental protection
  • Media and journalism
  • Civic engagement
• Operate in regions such as:
  • Northern Uganda
  • Eastern Uganda
  • Western Uganda
  • Southern Uganda
• Face or are exposed to digital security risks in their work
• Demonstrate commitment to applying and sharing digital security knowledge

This targeted approach ensures that the programme reaches individuals who are most in need of digital protection tools.

Application Process

Interested candidates are required to submit their applications through the official application platform provided by DPI.

Applicants should:

• Complete the online application form
• Provide relevant details about their work and exposure to digital risks
• Demonstrate commitment to community knowledge sharing

Only a limited number of candidates will be selected, making the process highly competitive.

Programme Impact

The Digital Resilience Fellowship reflects DPI’s broader mission to promote and protect human rights, good governance, and democratic values. By strengthening digital security, the programme contributes to safeguarding civic space and enabling defenders to operate safely in increasingly complex digital environments.

Expected outcomes include:

• Improved digital safety practices among participants
• Increased organisational capacity to respond to cyber threats
• Strengthened networks of digitally resilient human rights defenders
• Enhanced protection for vulnerable communities

Conclusion

The Digital Resilience Fellowship 2026 provides a critical opportunity for civil society actors in Uganda to build essential digital security skills. Through mentorship, practical training, and community engagement, the programme empowers participants to protect themselves and amplify resilience across their networks.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is offering the fellowship. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs 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.