African Fact-Checking Alliance: Strengthening Truth Across Africa

The African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA) is the continent’s largest indigenous fact-checking network. Comprising newsrooms and civil society organizations, AFCA combats misinformation by publishing fact-checks that debunk viral conspiracy theories and harmful content.

The network plays a crucial role in promoting credible journalism and reinforcing information integrity across Africa.

Call for Applications: Southern African Fact-Checking Fellowship

The African Fact-Checking Alliance, through Code for Africa (CfA), is inviting applications for a stipend-based fellowship aimed at journalists and fact-checkers in Southern Africa.

This initiative targets professionals passionate about uncovering misinformation while strengthening democratic resilience and media integrity in the region.

The fellowship forms part of the “Strengthening Information Integrity and Democratic Resilience in Southern Africa” project, expanding on the earlier “Detecting, Disrupting and Deplatforming Malign Actors” program. Funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this phase (2026–2027) focuses on countries including Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Fellowship Overview

The fellowship will award six journalists and fact-checkers for a six-month period. Fellows will produce fact-checking content highlighting misinformation and disinformation in Southern Africa.

Key components of the fellowship include:

Editorial Training & Mentorship: Participants will receive guidance from CfA’s PesaCheck, iLAB, and AFCA teams.
Publication & Amplification: Fellows will disseminate debunks using written, visual, or audio formats, often in local languages to engage youth audiences.
Technical Support: Access to training, mentoring, and resources to enhance existing CheckDesks or launch new ones in newsrooms.
Financial Support: Monthly stipends will be provided for the duration of six months.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Non-partisan and not affiliated with paramilitary or security organizations.
Established journalists or digital storytellers with at least one year of experience and a published portfolio.
Preferred experience in fact-checking.
Affiliated with a media partner and publishing in mainstream media.
Fluent in English or French, depending on the country.
Access to a reliable computer and internet connectivity.
Commitment to share skills within their organization and participate in virtual meetings.

The deadline for applications is 10 April 2026. Interested candidates can apply via the official application form provided by AFCA.

About the Partners

Code for Africa (CfA) is the largest network of digital democracy laboratories in Africa, with over 100 professionals working across 26 countries.

CfA supports investigative media and civil society partners with technological solutions, data analysis, and multimedia tools to amplify credible information. Fellows will benefit from CfA’s wide range of teams, including openAFRICA, commons.AFRICA, source.AFRICA, africanDRONE, sensor.AFRICA, PesaCheck, iLAB, CivicSignal, and WanaData.

The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway supports this fellowship, promoting human rights, democratic principles, and international cooperation through its network of diplomatic missions.

Why This Fellowship Matters

Misinformation poses a serious threat to democracy and civic trust in Southern Africa. By equipping journalists and fact-checkers with advanced skills and tools, AFCA and CfA aim to:

Strengthen information integrity and public trust.
Enhance investigative journalism capacity across multiple media platforms.
Promote engagement with local communities, particularly youth audiences.
Support sustainable fact-checking infrastructure within newsrooms.

Join the Network of Southern African Fact-Checkers

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for journalists to expand their expertise, gain international exposure, and contribute meaningfully to a fact-based media ecosystem. By joining AFCA, fellows become part of Africa’s largest network dedicated to fighting misinformation and fostering credible public discourse.

For more information or to apply, visit the AFCA website or follow their publications on social media.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is offering this 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.