Civic Hive Launches 2019 Fellowship Programme for Young Nigerian Tech Innovators

Civic Hive, a civic tech accelerator, has announced the launching of its 2019 Civic Hive Fellowship Programme. The programme which takes the form of a competition is geared towards deepening the civic technology and government technology space in Nigeria. This, the organisers hope, would strengthen the ability of citizens to influence sustainable change.

ANNOUNCING: The Civic Hive Fellowship for the year 2018/2019 session! Do you have what it takes? Do you use tech to solve GOVERNANCE issues in Nigeria? Then this is for YOU!!!https://t.co/DBy7bY76EO #CivicTech #Tech4Governance pic.twitter.com/jyKHu2IVwO

— CivicHive (@CivicHive) November 19, 2018

Now in its second year, the Civic Hive Fellowship Programme features solutions that are breaching the gap between the citizens and the government. For 2019, the programme will focus more on Transparency/Accountability, Civic Participation, and Institutional Efficiency. The challenge is open to startups in the civic tech space making use of various technology  – radio, text, print, IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence or social media – as a channel.

In January, six innovative civic-tech/govtech startups would be selected by a strong team of judges. They would comprise experienced civil society leaders, private sector experts, and ex-heads of government institutions.  They would review the submissions made by the startups as well as interview the owners.

Benefits

• Startups would be provided with a monthly stipend of N150,000 (for feeding and accommodation).
• Civic Hive would hold 2 rounds of pitches for the participants to present their ideas to investors and stakeholders and to receive feedback and potential support (although funding and donations are not guaranteed by the Civic Hive team)
• Startups would also be provided with grant report writing, team management, finance management, and project management to be handled by the Civic Hive Team.

We supported @citizen_gavel which uses tech to provide access to justice. They worked on #EndSARS and we also helped secure funding.

Here's your chance to play your part in a greater Nigeria. Your own CIVIC IDEA. Apply for @CivicHive Fellowship. pic.twitter.com/1XnT3l68RT

— Olúseun Onígbíńdé (@seunonigbinde) November 19, 2018

After the round of applications, winners would be announced in February. Winners will be allowed to work freely, receive mentorship for a period and additional support till December 2019. The 2018/2019 cohort would begin on March 4, 2019, and end on August 31, 2019.

You can apply via this link. Deadline for application is December 21st, 2018.