DW Akademie Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme 2026

TrustLab is a three-year EU-funded project by DW Akademie, Code for Africa (CfA) and Siasa Place, designed to help frontline organisations respond to digital threats with practical, community-led solutions.

Through the programme, participants will explore ways for frontline watchdog media to collaborate around shared infrastructure and services wherever possible, to bolster their collective ability to defend against digital harms in ways that are sustainable within a resource-constrained environment

• Table of Content
• About DW Akademie
• Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme
• Aim and Benefits of Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme
• Requirements for Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About DW Akademie

We believe that independent media and responsible journalism are essential worldwide. Given Germany's history, we believe that people should be able to freely express their views and have access to independent sources of information. We consider this to be an important prerequisite for peace and democracy.

Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme

Aim and Benefits of Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme

• Funding: Grant award of up €5,000 to implement your project.

Requirements for Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme Qualification

Eligible applicants must: 

• Not work for any paramilitary or security organisation and must be non-partisan. 
• Be registered with the relevant authorities in Kenya. 
• Have skilled and available staff who are committed to participating in the period agreed upon. 
• Maintain a strong connection to the communities they serve 
• Be committed to countering digital threats such as surveillance, intimidation, hate speech and misinformation. 

Interview date, Process and Venue for Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme

Phase A: 1 to 5 December 2025 (Nairobi)
Face-to-workshop. Learn from technical experts about current digital threats in Kenya (such as surveillance, information manipulation and malicious AI), existing tools and services to detect and counter them, as well as ways to gather hands-on experience from the communities you serve.

Phase B and C: 26 to 30 January 2026 (Nairobi)
Ideation and prototyping workshop to support organisations in developing their projects, followed by online mentorship.

Phase D: expected March till August 2026 (online)
Prototype grants awarded for the most feasible and compelling ideas, along with technical support and strategic peer-mentorshi. Selected organisations are expected to participate in all sessions in Phases A to C, in order to qualify for funding in Phase D

Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Kenya’s TrustLab Incubator Programme webpage