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Code for Africa (CfA) AI Sandbox Seed Grant | MsingiLab

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ClosedExpired

Code for Africa (CfA) AI Sandbox Seed Grant

Up to $3,000

ExpiredWebsiteEst. 2012

Moderate Gender Lens

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What You Get

Seed grant of up to $3,000 for prototype development

6-month grant period with possible extension

Technical support from CfA's TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox

Design and content team support from CfA

Strategic support from Digitalise Youth partner institutions

Policy advice and democratic governance think tank access

Research support from partner network

How to Apply

Applications through CfA opportunities portal when open. 2026 cycle deadline was March 30, 2026 (now closed). Monitor opportunities.codeforafrica.org for future calls.

Warm Intro

Recommended but not required

Geographic Focus

Sahel region and neighbouring West and East Africa

Decision Timeline

4-6 weeks after deadline (estimated based on previous cycles)

Eligibility

Registered non-profit or civil society organisation (CSO)
Mandate to defend human rights in the Sahel region or neighbouring countries in West and East Africa
Focus on applying AI to civic and human rights challenges
Must develop MVP or working prototype during grant period
Part of Digitalise Youth consortium initiative

Traction Required

Organizational track record in human rights or civic tech; clear project concept for AI application

Team Requirements

Technology team or capacity to hire AI expertise with grant funds

Selection Criteria

Relevance to human rights and civic tech challenges in Sahel and neighbouring regions
Quality and feasibility of proposed AI application
Potential for impact on digital rights, misinformation, or freedom of expression
Organizational capacity to deliver within 6-month timeframe
Commitment to ethical AI principles and sustainability

What They Look For

Civil society organisations in the Sahel and neighbouring West/East African countries exploring practical applications of AI for civic and human rights work. Projects should address digital rights, freedom of expression, misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, or digital surveillance.

Post-Investment Support

CfA TechLab, DataLab, AI Sandbox technical mentorship; design/content support; partner network access

Red Flags to Watch

Very small grant size ($3K). 2026 cycle is closed (deadline March 30). CSO-only, not for startups. Sahel/West/East Africa geographic focus.

Insider Tip

This is a recurring program — the 2025 cycle also ran. Five grants awarded per cycle. Small ticket but valuable for the CfA network access and technical support. Watch opportunities.codeforafrica.org for next call. CfA also runs an AI Ethics Fellowship program concurrently.

2012

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Notable Investments

5 CSO grantees per cycle across Sahel and neighbouring regions