AI Sandbox Seed Grant for Human Rights Organisations in Africa up to $3,000 in Grant
The civic technology network Code for Africa has announced applications for the AI Sandbox Seed Grant, a funding opportunity designed to help human rights organisations leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen digital activism and civic engagement.
- This initiative is part of the Digitalise Youth Project, which focuses on empowering youth activists and civil society organisations across Africa to address challenges such as disinformation, online surveillance, and shrinking civic space.
Program Overview
The AI Sandbox Seed Grant supports civil society organisations that want to develop or scale AI-powered tools to improve their human rights work.
Selected organisations will create a minimum viable product (MVP) or working prototype designed to address digital challenges facing activists and communities.
- The programme specifically targets organisations working in the Sahel and neighbouring countries in West Africa and East Africa, where digital threats to human rights defenders are increasing.
- The initiative aims to help organisations build innovative solutions that support their core missions while improving their ability to operate safely in complex digital environments.
Grant Details
- The seed grant provides both financial support and technical mentorship to help organisations develop AI-driven solutions.
Key grant features include:
Grant amount: $3,000 per organisation
Project duration: 6 months
Extension possibility: Based on demonstrated progress and impact
Number of grants: Five organisations selected
Funding can be used to support internal technology teams or to hire external AI expertise.
The programme encourages applicants to design practical solutions that address pressing digital challenges affecting human rights work.
Analysis and Monitoring Tools
Projects may include tools that:
- Monitor civic conversations and public discourse
- Track patterns of hate speech and digital harassment
- Analyse misinformation and disinformation campaigns
- Support monitoring of election integrity and civic advocacy
Applicants may also build lightweight sentiment analysis tools capable of operating in low-resource environments.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the grant, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a registered non-profit or civil society organisation
- Operate in the Sahel region or neighbouring countries in West or East Africa
- Have a mandate to defend human rights or digital rights
- Possess a technology team or plan to hire AI expertise
- Demonstrate a clear need for AI tools in their work
Application Deadline
Interested organisations must submit their applications by:
Deadline: 30 March 2026
- Successful applicants will join a cohort of innovators working to address some of the most urgent digital challenges affecting civic space in Africa.
How to Apply
Interested applicant can apply via this link
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