ILINA 2026 Training Programs Open for Africans in AI Safety

Applications are now open for the ILINA 2026 training programs, including the ILINA Seminar and the ILINA Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). These programs are designed to support promising Africans interested in AI safety, governance, and global catastrophic risks. Through research, mentorship, and policy engagement, ILINA aims to help build the next generation of African AI safety leaders.

If you are looking to build a meaningful career in AI safety research in Africa, the ILINA Program offers a rare and impactful opportunity.

About the ILINA Program

The ILINA Program is an African-led research initiative dedicated to building talent, producing impactful research, and shaping policy around advanced artificial intelligence safety. At its core, ILINA believes that Africans must actively contribute to the global effort to ensure that frontier AI systems are developed responsibly.

As AI capabilities continue to advance rapidly, poorly governed systems could pose catastrophic risks to humanity. Therefore, ILINA focuses on research, talent development, and policy engagement to reduce these risks before they materialize.

In addition to research, ILINA team members regularly collaborate with policymakers, institutions, and researchers working on AI governance and safety worldwide.

Learn more about ILINA’s work here: https://ilinaprogram.org

Focus Areas of the ILINA Program

ILINA’s work centers on critical questions around AI policy and regulation. Specifically, the program examines how key actors—governments, institutions, and companies—should govern frontier AI systems to minimize catastrophic risks.

Moreover, ILINA contributes African perspectives to global AI governance conversations, ensuring that policy decisions are informed by diverse experiences and insights.

ILINA Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)

Overview of the Junior Research Fellowship

The ILINA Junior Research Fellowship is designed to immerse selected candidates in the field of AI and global catastrophic risks. Through structured research projects and close mentorship, fellows gain valuable career capital and practical experience.

This year, ILINA is offering two fellowship tracks:

• Governance Track
• Technical Track

Fellowship Tracks Explained

JRFs in the governance track will research AI policy, regulation, and legal frameworks. Meanwhile, those in the technical track will focus on AI safety evaluation and mechanistic interpretability.

From early April to late June 2026, fellows will attend weekly seminar sessions. Subsequently, from early August to the end of November 2026, fellows will dedicate at least 20 hours per week to their research projects.

Although the program is primarily remote, occasional in-person meetups will also take place.

Benefits of Being an ILINA JRF

Fellows will receive:

• In-depth training on AI safety and catastrophic risk
• Personalized mentorship and research guidance
• Access to a community of AI safety researchers
• A $5,000 USD scholarship

As a result, participants are well-positioned for impactful careers in AI research, policy, or governance.

Who Can Apply for the Junior Research Fellowship?

Applicants to the governance track should have a social science or humanities background, while technical track applicants should have programming experience (especially Python) and training in mathematics, statistics, or machine learning.

In addition, all applicants must:

• Have completed or be completing an undergraduate degree by August 2026
• Commit at least 7 hours per week (April–June 2026)
• Commit at least 20 hours per week (August–November 2026)

Applications close 27 February 2026, with final decisions announced by 3 April 2026.

👉 Apply here (Governance Track):

👉 Apply here (Technical Track):

ILINA Seminar 2026

Seminar Overview

The ILINA Seminar is a 12-week intensive learning program focused on AI and global catastrophic risks. Participants may attend either virtually or in person.

Virtual sessions will be held on Fridays via Zoom, while in-person sessions will take place in Nairobi on Saturdays. Participants are expected to complete weekly readings and attend at least 10 out of 12 sessions.

Seminar Benefits and Eligibility

Participants will gain:

• A strong foundation in AI safety and governance
• A certificate of completion
• Opportunities to network with researchers and professionals
• Pathways into future ILINA work or related organizations

Applications are open to all, although ILINA is particularly interested in talented Africans currently pursuing or recently completing undergraduate studies.

Applications close 18 February 2026, and final decisions will be shared by 3 April 2026.

👉 Apply here