**Deadline for online applications is midnight Friday, 10 July 2026. The online application includes a number of questions and pitching a petition (practical exercise) which you can pitch as a WhatsApp video or written petition**
The amandla.mobi Campaigner Fellowship is designed for writers and community organisers to receive training in best-practice campaigning, intensive coaching, and hands-on practical experience in running campaigns that use petitions, public submissions, protests, and other tactics to hold those in power to account.
This four-month full-time, paid Fellowship is open to Black women and gender non-conforming people, and will be based at the amandla.mobi offices in Kensington, Johannesburg. There are six spots available for the Fellowship, which will run from Friday, 7 August 2026, to Monday, 30 November 2026.
**Deadline for online applications is midnight Friday, 10 July 2026. The online application includes a number of questions and pitching a petition (practical exercise) which you can pitch as a WhatsApp video or written petition**
The application process to be a Campaigner Fellow is intense, and we can only select six people, which is not easy. If you apply and are unsuccessful, you are still a valued member of the amandla.mobi community.
**Please do not contact amandla.mobi staff directly to enquire about the Fellowship. Please read this page and the Frequently Asked Questions page. If your question is not answered, you can send a query to [email protected] [email protected]. The Recruitment process will be fair and objective. Applications must be submitted through our online application form**
Who we’re looking for:
We’re looking for Black women and gender non-conforming people, young and old, committed to building people power to campaign for a more just Mzansi. We’re looking for applications from people who:
- Have exceptional writing skills in English and either isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Afrikaans, Xitsonga, siSwati or Tshivenda.
- Have the ability to analyse news, reports etc. and design campaigns that use petitions, public submissions, protests and other tactics to pressure a decision-maker in government or the private sector to meet a campaign’s demands. Campaign demands must be focused on creating tangible change, such as the decision-maker changing their practices, policies or budgets in order to help address a specific injustice.
- Have experience in community organising at a local, provincial or national level.
- Are tech-savvy and experienced in using tools such as social media, SMS or Whatsapp to help make real-world activism happen faster and at scale.
- Have initiative, are highly motivated and can work independently. We’re looking for applicants who will take full responsibility for the success or failure of the campaigns they run. Fellows, while provided with training, will be expected to conduct their own research and teach themselves to use technology and various tactics effectively.
- Have a “get things done ” attitude and can deliver results quickly and on time.
- Are good listeners and can centre our work within the experiences of our members, the majority of whom are Black women from low-income backgrounds.
- Are detail-oriented. We’re looking for applicants who check their facts, care about the quality of their writing and campaigning, and are quick learners.
- Are based in or near Joburg, or are able to commute to Joburg each day or stay in Joburg for the duration of the Campaigner Fellowship. Unfortunately, amandla.mobi only has one office, and the Fellowship has to be face-to-face. The Fellowship programme does not provide moving costs to Joburg or accommodation, but does provide a stipend of R11, 324.88 per month.
We are not worried about applicants’ education qualifications or work experience.
However, the following experience would be a plus (but not essential):
- Published writing or blogging (including developing press releases).
- Community organising or campaigning using social media, Whatsapp or SMS.
- Graphic design and/or video editing.
What is involved in the Campaigner Fellowship:
The Fellowship will be full-time and Fellows will be expected to work from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday at amandla.mobi’s office.
Duration: 7 August 2026 to ’30 November 2026. There can be no expectation of employment at the end of the Fellowship.
Location: amandla.mobi’s office in Kensington, Johannesburg.
Payment: Monthly stipend of R11,324.88 for the 4 months.
Click here to read more about the fellowship programme
The Fellowship application process:
Shortlisted applicants will have to complete the following selection stages in order to make it to the final interview and stand a chance to be selected as a Campaigner Fellow:
Round 1. Online application and a WhatsApp video practical exercise OR a written petition practical exercise – closes midnight 10 July 2026.
Applicants will need to complete the online application, which involves answering questions, providing references and completing a petition pitch (practical exercise) which you can either pitch using a WhatsApp video or writing a petition pitch. The following video has been developed to assist you with completing the WhatsApp video practical exercise WhatsApp Video Practical Exercise. Or, if you are submitting a written petition, the Petition Pitch Guide will assits you in completing the written practical exercise.
Round 2. Timed practical exercise – starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, and must be completed by midnight on Thursday, 16 July 2026.
Those applicants whose online application is accepted will receive an email with instructions for a timed practical exercise. The practical exercise will involve identifying and setting up a campaign. amandla.mobi will provide 250mb to applicants who get through to this practical exercise so that data is not a barrier to applying.
Round 3: Feedback and implementation of feedback – starts at 12 noon on Saturday, 18 July 2026, and ends at midnight on Monday, 20 July 2026.
Applicants who successfully complete round 2 of the application will receive feedback which must be implemented and returned to amandla.mobi for assessment.
Round 4: Run and try to win a campaign on www.awethu.mobi – it starts at 3 pm on Monday, 20 July 2026, and ends at 3 pm on Monday, 3 August 2026.
Applicants who successfully complete round 3 will load their petition onto awethu.mobi and have 15 days to run and try to win the campaign. This round will involve mobilising others to take action and engaging your campaign’s decision-maker. amandla.mobi will provide data to applicants whose petitions have been approved for run.
Round 5: In-person interviews and practical exercise from Tuesday, 4 August to Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will have to be available on one of the above two days for an interview at the amandla.mobi office. The interview panel will ask you more questions about yourself and the Fellowship role, and will give you 1 or 2 practical exercises to complete.
The 6 amandla.mobi 2026 Campaigner Fellows will be announced on Thursday, 6 August 2026. Fellows must be available to begin the Fellowship on Friday, 7 August 2026, at the same office.