CyberSafe Foundation and SANS Institute announced on September 29 that ten women working in cybersecurity across Africa have received fellowships for AI security training.
The funded program includes four SANS courses and two GIAC certifications, at no cost to recipients. Training starts October 21, 2026 and runs through July 30, 2027.
What the program covers
The curriculum covers AI security foundations, retrieval-augmented generation security, generative AI application security, and AI-assisted security automation. Its certification pathways lead to GIAC AI Platform Security (GAIPS) and GIAC AI Security Automation Engineer (GASAE).
Participants will study through self-paced SANS OnDemand courses, completing each before the next becomes available. CyberSafe mentors will support their training and certification attempts.
Who This Is For
Applicants needed at least three years of hands-on cybersecurity experience, although previous AI experience was not required. The announcement describes fellowships already awarded, rather than an open application round. However, it invites organizations interested in supporting future cohorts to register their interest.
For career context related to the curriculum, explore these role guides:
- Application Security Engineer — protecting applications.
- SOC Analyst — security monitoring and response.
