Updated November 4, 2026. A researched directory of Africa-focused fellowships, policy and research calls, professional events, grants and courses. Some opportunities are selective, some charge attendance fees, and a funding expression of interest does not guarantee an award. Always verify current status and eligibility directly with the organiser.
Apply soon: CMU-Africa AI certificate (November 15), Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships (November 20), Ashesi Law Colloquium abstracts (November 27), and East Africa Data Governance Conference submissions (December 11).
Fellowships, research and policy calls
ASA & CSIS Pre-Conference Policy Workshop
Timing: Rolling applications; workshop December 2, 2026
Limited-space policy workshop in New Orleans on US–Africa trade, investment, governance and security. US$40 fee; participation is not a funded fellowship.
Official information / registration
2027 Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships
Timing: November 20, 2026
Twelve-month placements at AfDB, UNECA or ITC. African nationality, a master’s, seven years’ relevant work experience and age restrictions apply.
Official information / registration
Ashesi Law Colloquium 2027: Africa in Transition
Timing: Abstracts due November 27, 2026
Submit a 300–500-word abstract on law, governance, technology, trade or related topics. Full papers due February 12, 2027; colloquium April 14–15, 2027.
Official information / registration
East Africa Data Governance Conference 2027: Call for Sessions
Timing: December 11, 2026, 5 p.m. EAT
Session submissions invited from researchers, journalists, practitioners and policy experts on citizen-centred data governance.
Official information / registration
Advancing Africa’s Industrialisation Conference: Call for Submissions
Timing: Reported full-paper deadline January 31, 2027; reconfirm with organiser
Policy and research submissions on building regional value chains for a greener, more resilient African economy.
Official information / registration
Events
All Africa Intellectual Property Summit
Timing: November 11–13, 2026; Nairobi, Kenya
IP protection, trade, industrialisation and the creative economy.
Official information / registration
Africa Tech Festival
Timing: November 17–19, 2026; Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s connectivity, digital infrastructure, telecoms and technology industry meeting.
Official information / registration
Privacy Symposium Africa
Timing: November 25–26, 2026; Ghana
Privacy, data protection and governance across Africa’s digital economy.
Official information / registration
Funding and grants
RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovation EOI
Timing: Rolling expressions of interest
For African climate AI solutions at pilot stage or later. Potential scaling grants up to US$200,000; no guarantee of funding.
Official information / registration
Courses and professional learning
CMU-Africa Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Africa
Timing: Apply by November 15, 2026; starts January 17, 2027
Six-course online, non-credit AI certificate offered free to qualified selected applicants. Programming and maths background required.
Official information / registration
AI Applications in Africa — Smart Africa Digital Academy
Timing: Check course platform for enrollment
Public-sector AI applications, governance and national AI strategy, focused on practical African use cases.
Official information / registration
The African Data Economy in the Global Context — atingi / GIZ
Timing: Self-paced; check enrollment availability
Data governance and Africa’s role in the global data economy; course listed alongside three related governance modules.
Official information / registration
Still under verification
The CACM Africa regional special-section call, including its reported November 9 deadline, and the separate AFRINIC-38 listing are not presented here as verified open opportunities until their current official details can be confirmed.
Editorial verification date: November 4, 2026.
