We are pleased to announce an open call for applications for the first cohort of the RT Spyware Fellowship Program which runs for a 3-month period from May 2024 – August 2024. We are inviting young professionals from sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in to apply for the fellowship.
In the internet freedom community, particularly in the Global South, commercial spyware technologies such as NSO’s Pegasus and Cytrox’s Predator have become serious concerns. Numerous nation-states and government actors, notably those in Africa, have become fond of these technologies due to features like zero-click and the ability to override built-in security to exfiltrate all kinds of data from a victim’s phone.
Investigating spyware like Pegasus requires specialised skill sets which are often difficult to find in the African internet freedom space. Owing to this, investigations on spyware operations in the region are not as pronounced as they are in other regions, which makes it difficult to truly measure and map the extent of spyware operations on the African continent (especially those targeting activists and civil society).
This fellowship program will train young African professionals for a period of 3-months with curriculum focusing on hands-on learning, practical exercises and real-world application and each Fellow being paired with an experienced cybersecurity professional mentor, whose role is to provide guidance, advice, and professional support to the fellow through their fellowship program.
The ideal fellow/applicant for this Fellowship Program must have/ be:
- motivated and capable with a background or experience in cybersecurity (education or work experience), a passion for learning and research, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the cybersecurity and Civil Society space.
- foundational understanding of cybersecurity principles, concepts and technologies. As indicated above, this may include a formal degree in cybersecurity or relevant work experience. Self-study may also count if the candidate can showcase their work.
- possess good written communication skills as the fellowship outcome requires the publication of a research paper within a specified timeframe. The candidate must also have the ability to work collaboratively with a team/cohort as well as independently when necessary
- ready to commit a full duration of 3 months to the Fellowship – to attend scheduled sessions, mentorship meetings, complete assignments and engage in other program activities. Although the program is fully virtual, fellows will be required to actively participate. Virtual participation also requires having access to a device that can connect to the internet and a conducive environment to hold interactive discussions virtually.
Interested professionals are now invited to apply through completing the form below. The call will remain open until 3rd May 2024. Applicants will be notified of the review outcome on 10th May, 2024.
Female participants are encouraged to Apply
If you have any questions around the form or the process, or require more information about the Resilience Technologies, please contact us at https://rtafrica.org/contact/