The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), officially announces the commencement of duty for the 3rd Cohort of the AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship. Following an intensive induction bootcamp, 12 of Africa’s brightest technical minds have been integrated into various AU organs and departments to co-create data-driven solutions for the continent’s most pressing challenges.

The selection process for this cohort was competitive, drawing 3,021 applications from across the continent. The final 12 fellows—representing 11 African Union Member States including Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda—were chosen based on their technical expertise, innovative spirit, and commitment to the "Africa We Want."

Impact of the Programme over the years: Strengthening the Digital Ecosystem

• Unprecedented Interest: Since the program's inception, application volume demonstrates the growing appetite of African youth to contribute to institutional governance.
• Proven Scalability: Building on the success of Cohort 2, which successfully delivered transformative digital tools across multiple AU departments, Cohort 3 expands its reach to 12 specialized technical tracks including Full-Stack Development, Data Science, and Digital Governance.
• Gender & Youth Inclusion: In line with the AU’s commitment to equity, the fellowship continues to prioritize the inclusion of women and youth from diverse geographic backgrounds, ensuring that Africa's digital future is shaped by all its citizens.

The AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship is a cornerstone of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative, which aims to provide millions of African youth with opportunities in Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Engagement, and Health. By embedding these fellows directly within the AUC, the program bridges the gap between high-level policy and technical implementation, operationalizing the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030).

The AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship 2026/2027 is developed and hosted by the African Union, implemented in partnership with Enpact and supported by the German Cooperation.

#AUDigitalFellowship #1mNextLevel #Agenda2063 #DigitalAfrica

For technical inquiries, please contact: 

Mr. Mohamed Kimbugwe |Digital Governance and Innovation Advisor, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: KimbugweM@AfricaUnion.org

Mr. Natan Addisu Tafese | Innovation Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: NatanA@AfricaUnion.org

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Ms. Adele Onguene Atangana | Communications Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: AtanganaA@AfricanUnion.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africaunion.org
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