Code for Africa AI Sandbox Seed Grant 2026

The Code for Africa AI Sandbox Seed Grant 2026 offers five seed grants to civil society organisations in the Sahel and nearby West and East African countries. Grantees will prototype or scale AI-powered solutions to address challenges in human rights, digital rights, misinformation, hate speech, and digital surveillance, with support from CfA’s TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox teams. The grant supports development over six months with a total funding amount of $3,000 and potential extensions based on progress and impact.

Grant funds plus hands-on support from CfA’s TechLab, DataLab, and AI Sandbox, as well as strategic guidance from Digitalise Youth partner institutions; six-month grant period with potential extension.

Your organisation must be a registered non-profit or civil society organisation with a mandate to defend human rights in the Sahel region or neighbouring countries, have a dedicated technology team or plan to hire AI expertise, and demonstrate a clear need for AI-powered tools to address challenges in mis/disinformation, hate speech, or digital surveillance.

Related information is available through the Code for Africa call-for-applications page.