Apply for the Idia Fellowship: Co-Designing AI with Women for Better
Applications are now open for the Idia Fellowship: Co-Designing AI with Women for Better. Artificial Intelligence is dramatically transforming lives across Africa. From boosting agriculture and empowering businesses to revolutionizing education and healthcare. But there’s a crucial gap. Women are significantly underrepresented in AI research and policy-making.
The Idia Fellowship is here to change that! We’re empowering brilliant women scholars to not just research and design, but to actively influence the future of AI, ensuring it truly meets women’s needs.
Over an impactful 12-month journey, our fellows will dive deep into how AI-enabled smartphones are shaping the lives of women entrepreneurs and mothers. They’ll generate groundbreaking, actionable design recommendations to ensure technology is not just inclusive, but truly practical and transformative for all!
- Phase 1 – Capacity Building
- Phase 2 – Application & Community Impact
Program Structure
Phase I: Empowering Women with Smartphones
- Facilitate the use of maternal health and business apps for 20 women.
- Investigate usability, accessibility, affordability, and cultural fit.
- Uncover opportunities and barriers women face with AI-powered tools.
Phase II: Crafting Inclusive Tools
- Run co-creation workshops with women, developers, and experts.
- Prototype solutions such as offline health chatbots and business dashboards.
- Deliver practical design guidelines and policy briefs for stakeholders.
Fellowship Tracks & Entry Requirements
- Postdoctoral – PhD in Computer Science, Information Systems, Health Informatics, Strategy, or related fields. Proven track record in research and publications.
- PhD – Enrolled in a PhD program or accepted to one. Research interest in AI, tech innovation, or women’s livelihoods.
- Masters – Master’s-level student or graduate in relevant fields. Strong research and writing skills.
- Software Development – Experience in software engineering, UX/UI design, or app development. Interest in human-centered design.
- Health – Background in maternal health, health informatics, or related fields.
- Policy – Experience in tech policy, gender policy, or public policy analysis.
Fellowship Benefits
- Training & Mentorship – AI literacy sessions, research skills, design thinking, and innovation.
- Research Funding – Support for fieldwork, prototyping, and dissemination.
- Global Network – Access to a community of AI experts, developers, and policymakers.
- Publication Support – Open-access reports, case studies, and policy briefs.
- Impact-Driven Work – Shape technologies that empower women across Africa.
Application
- For more details and to apply visit the official website
- Deadline: November 1st, 2025
