DPI Fellowship |
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), in partnership with Co-Develop, is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of Fellows selected for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Journalism Fellowship for Eastern Africa following an open call in April 2025.
This six-month regional fellowship aims to cultivate a new generation of journalists with the knowledge and skills to investigate and report on DPI and Digital Public Goods (DPGs). Fellows will participate in specialised training sessions, receive mentorship, and receive financial support to develop and produce impactful stories in diverse formats and languages. The stories will interrogate the development and deployment of DPI and DPGs with a focus on their implications for governance, inclusion, equity, and citizens’ everyday lives.
The fellowship brings together 20 journalists from nine countries (Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) who work across online, broadcast, and print platforms.
The call in April attracted 214 applications, which were assessed through a rigorous selection process to identify fellows who demonstrated a strong interest and capacity to report on emerging digital public infrastructure issues with clarity, depth, and integrity.
“This fellowship is about more than capacity building. It is about empowering African journalists to shape the public narrative around digital transformation in ways that reflect citizens’ rights, challenges, and aspirations,” said Dr. Wairagala Wakabi, CIPESA’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled to support these pioneering journalists as they lead the charge in demystifying digital infrastructure and holding power to account.”
The launch of this fellowship is significant as the digital transformation agenda of many African countries is evolving. Yet, media coverage of DPI and DPGs remains limited. The fellowship aims to close that gap by building the capacity of the media to cover DPI and DPI in ways that create awareness and informed public discourse on digital governance.
The fellowship is inspired by a similar Co-Develop-funded initiative implemented by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), which supported fellows to produce over 100 impactful stories that spurred public debate and influenced policy.
At Co-Develop, we believe that sustainable digital public infrastructure requires more than innovation and technology, it demands informed ecosystems. By supporting journalists across nine East African countries, this fellowship helps create a critical layer of engagement and accountability around Digital Public Infrastructure. We’re proud to invest in a future where DPI is not only built, but deeply understood, safeguarded, and shaped by those it serves.
– Desire Kachenje, Senior Investment Principal, Co-Develop
Follow the Fellows’ Stories
Stay engaged with the work of the DPI Journalism Fellows throughout 2025 using the hashtags #DPIJournalism #DPIFellows2025. Follow their stories and insights via CIPESA and Co-Develop’s online platforms, and join the conversation on how digital public infrastructure is shaping the future of governance and inclusion in Africa.
Read more about the DPI Journalism Fellows 2025 here.