CIPIT has partnered with leading fellowship programs to host researchers working on Internet policy and its related topics in our Nairobi offices. We currently have active partnerships with Open Technology Fund, Google and Ford-Mozilla fellowship programs. Each fellowship program has separate application requirements and we advise prospective applicants to monitor the respective calls for application.

Open Technology Fund Information Controls Fellowship

The ICFP fellowship cultivates research, knowledge, and creative collaboration at different institutions and across disciplines on the topic of information controls. Specifically, the fellowship supports examination into how governments are restricting the free flow of information, debilitating the open Internet, and are thereby threatening human rights and democracy.

Google Public Policy Fellowship

The Google Public Policy fellowship offers undergraduate, graduate, and law students interested in Internet and technology policy the opportunity to spend three months contributing to the public dialogue on these issues, and exploring future academic and professional interests. Relevant topics may include but not limited to: debates on broadband and access policy, content regulation, copyright and creativity, consumer privacy, open government, government surveillance, data security, data innovation and free expression.

Ford-Mozilla Open Web Fellowship

The Open Web Fellows program is a collaboration between the Ford Foundation and Mozilla that brings together technology talent and civil society organizations from around the world to advance and protect the open internet. The fellowship aims to increase public awareness and understanding of internet policy issues, support and enable career paths in the internet policy and advocacy sectors, and celebrate a vibrant network of internet advocacy organizations.

What CIPIT is looking for in fellows

As much as CIPIT is open to new ideas from prospective fellows, we give priority to individuals working on topics relevant to our main research topics. These include:

Intellectual property and Internet freedom

This involves research on practical intersections between intellectual property rights online and Internet freedom. Topics may include roles and responsibilities of Internet intermediaries in upholding human rights, assessing effectiveness of oversight structures in mediating access to content and intellectual property. We welcome new ideas on this program especially as they relate to internet freedom.

Information controls on the Internet

This involves research on the technical and legal nature of information controls online including motivation for censorship, technical implementations of censorship, actors in the ecosystem and impacts of such practices in the markets and political societies. Topics like privacy, surveillance, cyber security and how they relate to Internet freedom are priority areas for the program.

Further Clarifications

If the information on this page or linked websites is not sufficient, you may reach CIPIT on email or phone contact. However, considering that we receive torrents of correspondence, we may not reply to your requests immediately and as such request for your patience. If using email, please use ‘Fellowships’ in your subject title.

We look forward to hosting you in Nairobi!