A 7 -week program run by Effective Altruism South Africa
In collaboration with other EA groups in Africa
To apply for the introductory fellowship, please fill out this form by 14 June 2026. https://tally.so/r/315EyQ
Participants from all countries are welcome!
What is Effective Altruism?
Effective Altruism (EA) is both an intellectual project and a community.
On one hand, it’s an intellectual project of people using evidence and reasoning to figure out how to help others as much as possible. On the other hand, it’s also a community of people taking action to help others as much as possible based on the research and evidence.
There are several EA groups in Africa, and the EA community in South Africa has been growing since 2018. There are also groups in multiple cities and countries around the world. As of today, there are more than 250 EA chapters globally across 42 countries, and an estimated 6,500 active people in the EA movement worldwide.
How the course works
The course will be entirely online. It will take place over 6 weeks. Every week, you will be expected to engage a set of resources (readings or videos) that will take around 2 hours to get through. Some weeks may also have exercises for you to do on your own before the meetup. Then, you will attend a 1.5 hour virtual meetup to discuss those resources in small groups of 4-6 people, with one facilitator in each group.
Who are the facilitators?
The facilitators will include both current and former organisers from EA South Africa and other groups in Africa, as well as individuals deeply involved in this field, all of whom possess considerable experience in leading introductory programs on Effective Altruism.
Key Dates:
- Sunday, 14 June 2026: Applications close.
- Wednesday, 17 June (Week 0): Acceptance emails and schedules sent out.
- Monday, 22 June: We will host a Q&A Session with all attendees.
- From 29th June (Week 1) to 9th August (Week 6): The program runs for six weeks.
- Post program: Participants will attend the online post-fellowship closing ceremony and social, with others who have successfully completed the program.
The schedule
The tentative schedule of this program is for participants to meet every week for six weeks. The exact schedule of the weekly meetups will depend on the fellows’ availability, but they will be set at the same time per week once the schedule is finalised.
Who can apply for the fellowship?
Anybody interested in learning about EA can apply! All meetings during the program will be virtual, so there are no geographical restrictions. We are particularly interested in applicants (students and professionals) based in South Africa. Unfortunately, due to capacity constraints, we will not be able to accept every applicant.
In order to get the most out of this program, fellows should be:
- Passionate about helping others and driven to do as much good as they can
- Excited to dedicate their career to doing good and/or to donate a significant portion of their income to charity
- Open-minded and flexible, eager to update their beliefs in response to persuasive evidence
- Willing and able to commit hours per week, including weekly discussions and preparatory reading
Why do the program?
- Gain knowledge about EA tools and concepts for greater impact.
- Connect with a community of kind and ambitious people making the world better.
- Gain a certificate globally recognised by people and organisations in the EA space.
- Unlock further opportunities for collaboration, 1-1 support, and impactful roles.
Testimonials
“The EA Fellowship is an extremely generous offer for individuals to advance their thinking and engage in the world of positive action. Each session is invaluable in promoting deep thinking on the challenges of society in the 21 st Century and beyond. I would strongly recommend this course to any conscious, mindful and concerned citizen”
- Bertrand Philips, UCT PhD student “The EA fellowship is a great way to get introduced to the main ideas of effective altruism and have fruitful discussion about some of your biggest questions. The conversations are especially valuable as they can open up new perspectives and ways of understanding this wonderful and enormously positive movement and the connections you make here will help you to establish connections and roots within it.”
- Benjamin Sturgeon, AI Safety Researcher “The facilitators were very knowledgeable and provided good questions. The sessions were productive, and the discussions were stimulating”
- First year, UCT Bachelor of Medicine
Curriculum
Week 0 - Introduction Week 1 - The effectiveness mindset Week 2 - Differences in Impact Week 3 - Radical Empathy Week 4 - Existential Risk Week 5 - What Do You Think? Week 6 - Putting it into Practice
How do I apply?
Applications are now open for the Introductory Fellowship, which runs from June 29th, 2026 to August 9th, 2026. To secure your spot, complete the application form before the May 31st, 2026 deadline.
We make most application decisions within weeks after the application deadline closes. Do keep an eye on your emails during this time, as if accepted we’ll need you to confirm your place.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to email us at hello@effectivealtruism.co.za.
Waiting List
If you are unable to join the next round but want to be informed about future rounds, join the waiting list here: https://forms.gle/xd5VDBPz17BhAJcL9
Earning a certificate
If you attend discussions, complete a write-up for any missed session, complete the exit survey, and attain a score of at least in the final quiz, you’ll earn a certificate of completion.
Who is this course run by?
Effective Altruism South Africa runs this program. We support people maximise the impact of their resources and careers, running programs in-person and virtually.
This program is run in collaboration with EA UCT, EA Zimbabwe, EA Rwanda, EA Johannesburg, and EA Namibia.
Stay Connected
In addition to our courses, we host bi-weekly reading groups, socials, and a range of other events. Follow our socials below to stay in the loop!
Any Questions?
If you’re not sure whether to apply, we recommend that you put in an application. If you have any other questions do contact us!