Designing Safe, Responsible Digital Products and AI Tools to prevent online harms on children including Technology facillitated child sexual abuse.
- Date:1/4/2026-20/8/2026
- Location: Virtual
The African Child-Oriented Design & Engineering for Safety (A-CODES) Child-Centred Design Fellowship is a regional, fully virtual programme for developers, designers, educators, content creators, moderators, and technologists who want to use their skills to create safer digital products and AI tools for children.As children across the Global South increasingly interact with digital platforms and AI-powered systems, there is an urgent need for professionals who understand not only technology, but also child development, online safety, and prevention-focused design. This fellowship responds to that need by equipping participants with the knowledge and practical tools to design responsibly, contextually, and with children’s best interests at the centre.
The most innovative solution will be presented at a Global South Conference later in the year, offering visibility and opportunities for further development.
Who is the content for?
The fellowship is designed for students and professionals working in or alongside technology and digital ecosystems, including gaming, EdTech, digital platforms, content moderation, AI development, education, and innovation. It is especially relevant for individuals building products that children use or are affect them directly or indirectly.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Too often, digital products are designed without sufficient consideration of how children experience risk, harm, and power imbalances online. This fellowship bridges that gap by combining technical expertise with child-centred, safety-by-design principles.
Building on Proven Impact
The fellowship builds on the success of the inaugural Cohort 1, delivered in Kenya in 2025, which brought together developers, educators, and technologists from sectors such as gaming, EdTech, and digital platforms.
Cost and Accessibility
The full cost of the fellowship is USD 500 per participant. However, thanks to the support of our generous investors and partners, the programme is highly subsidised and offered at USD 50 per participant, ensuring accessibility across the region.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the fellowship and achieve a minimum pass rate of 60% will receive a certificate of completion from Kutunga Design Academy & Innovation Lab.
All fellowship participants receive automatic membership to #KutungaCares: Caring for the Carer, Kutunga’s mental wellbeing community for developers and technologists.
This is a non-technical, non-commercial support space—no coding, no product work. It offers peer-to-peer support and access to guidance from qualified resident counsellors, recognising the emotional and moral pressures faced by those designing digital systems for children.
NB/The most innovative solution will be presented at a Global South Conference later in the year, offering visibility and opportunities for further development.
Step 1: Register
- Complete the registration via our Google Form, which includes a brief overview of the fellowship, course structure, and expected learning outcomes.
- Payment instructions will be provided after registration, based on your location:
- Nigeria: ₦72,500
- Rwanda: RWF 73,000
- South Africa & the rest of Africa:R797
