Deadline: 24-Oct-2025
Are you a media organisation based in Nairobi or Nakuru? Are you ready to fight back against digital threats? Apply now for the third and final TrustLab Incubator in Kenya, focused on strengthening Media Defenders in the face of rising online harms.
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. The initiative is designed to help frontline organizations in Kenya develop community-led solutions to tackle digital threats such as online harassment, surveillance, misinformation, and hate speech.
The incubator follows the global Living Lab model, fostering a collaborative environment where participants are introduced to the evolving landscape of digital harms and the practical measures available to counter them. Through hands-on workshops and co-creation sessions, organizations will design and test locally relevant pilot projects that strengthen their resilience and enhance digital safety within their communities.
TrustLab’s goal is to empower frontline watchdog media and civic organizations to build sustainable, shared infrastructure that enables collective defense against digital harms. By promoting collaboration and innovation, the program aims to strengthen the overall ecosystem of independent, community-based organizations working to protect digital rights and democratic dialogue in resource-limited contexts.
Selected organizations will receive grants of up to €5,000 to implement their pilot projects, along with training, mentorship, and access to digital tools. The program also covers travel and accommodation costs for all in-person workshops. Participants will benefit from direct guidance by experts in digital security, media innovation, and community engagement.
To be eligible, applicants must be registered organizations in Kenya with active ties to the communities they serve. They should not be affiliated with paramilitary or security institutions and must remain non-partisan. Organizations are also required to have skilled staff available for the program period and demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing digital threats through responsible, ethical, and innovative means.
The TrustLab Incubator Programme represents a powerful opportunity for Kenyan media and civil society groups to strengthen digital resilience, safeguard public trust, and foster safer online spaces through collaboration, creativity, and community-driven action.
For more information, visit DW Akademie.
