Paradigm Initiative (PIN) welcomes applications for its virtual 4th Edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL). Successful applicants will participate in a four-month fellowship program from 10 August 2024 to 10 December 2024. Paradigm Initiative (PIN) connects under-served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures the protection of their rights. We have worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007 and across Africa since 2017, building experience, community trust, and an organizational culture that positions us as a leading non-governmental organization in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent. Across our regional offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and beyond, we have impacted youth with improved livelihoods through our digital inclusion and digital rights programs.
Primary Purpose
To build expertise on digital rights topics among digital rights actors in the Global South.
To increase advocacy skills among digital rights actors for effective policy influencing in the Global South.
To build a network of digital rights advocates in the Global South
Region Focus: Africa and India
Target Audience: Potential candidates must be early-career individuals with at least two years of experience as technology or social innovators, media practitioners, researchers, policy experts, and/or entrepreneurs.
Qualifications: Fellows must have relevant undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications and be exceptional individuals who will bring new learnings and innovations and gain exposure to the digital ecosystem.
Fellows’ Responsibilities
Fellows will be expected to dedicate at least 10 hours per month to the fellowship spread across two meetings and assigned activities during the fellowship.
The fellows will be expected to publish research and deliver an advocacy campaign on digital rights or digital inclusion in Africa and India.
Fellows may have an opportunity to travel to the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) in April 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia and host a session.
The fellowship will end with a closing ceremony on 11 December 2024. The fellowship is open to potential fellows living in Africa and India.
Fellowship Benefits
PIN will provide a US$1000 stipend to the selected fellows, covering participation in the Fellowship.
Fellow submissions will be published on PIN’s website and shared with the digital rights community.
Fellows will be connected to industry experts who will lead sessions.
Fellows will have an opportunity to join the Net Rights Coalition for continuous engagements.
PIN will cover communications costs associated with fellow activities and provide opportunities for fellows to be embedded within the digital rights ecosystem.
The fellowship will provide editorial and technical support for reports/Policy Briefs and guidance on advocacy campaigns.
Outcome
Increased expertise among fellows on digital rights topics
Increased advocacy skills among digital rights actors
Improved participation in digital rights networks
Timeline
This application call is open from 08 July 2024 until 19 July 2024.
The selection process will be finalized at the end of July, with successful Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab fellows expected to resume in August through to November 2024.
