Mastercard Foundation to host inaugural Africa EdTech conference, in Abuja; ADEA to organize a technical session on the education and skills data challenge project
Theme: Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa
[Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, 19th June]: The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning will host the continental conference on education technology from July 8 – 11, 2024. The conference will be a biennial convening. This inaugural conference is being hosted in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The conference themed ‘Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa’ is in line with the African Union’s Year of Education in 2024. Conversations will center on the current state of the EdTech ecosystem, emerging trends, the role of EdTech in solving Africa’s educational challenges and policies that are needed to foster an enabling environment for technology-enabled innovation in education.
During the conference, ADEA will moderate a panel on data use in education decision-making and also host a technical workshop on 12th July 2024, to access the current status of education and skills data, discuss on the possible customized solutions and elaborate country-level plans on the implementation of its new Education and Skills Data Challenge project, supported by the Mastercard Foundation. ADEA is also working with the Foundation to host the Ministerial Forum, a feature aspect of the conference to take place on the 10th and 11th July 2024.
According to Reeta Roy, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Mastercard Foundation,
“Technology is a powerful enabler of possibility and progress. Across Africa, young innovators and entrepreneurs are bringing new energy and ideas to the education sector. Some are innovations that could shift ecosystems and the future for many. This inaugural conference brings together young people, EdTech innovators, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, data scientists and others to accelerate progress toward digitally-enabled educational platforms and systems that deliver inclusive learning for all.”
EdTech ecosystem stakeholders from across the continent working at the nexus of education and ICT are expected to share expertise on practical solutions that can increase access to quality, relevant, and inclusive education in Africa.
“Africa could change the course of education delivery by investing in home-grown innovative solutions that bridge access and learning gaps. This conference is an opportunity to reflect on what is working and align on the actions needed to take African EdTech to the next level of impact,”
added Joseph Nsengimana, the Director for the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
The conference aligns with ADEA’s new strategic outlook as we look to support member states to build resilient education systems.
“Our new strategic plan 2024 – 2028 focuses on helping countries build resilient systems and ensure learning continuity. This is a key fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also want to see increased use of data for decision-making. The conference allows us to ensure these two issues remain the center-point of conversations in education in Africa and ADEA is very committed to working with the Mastercard Foundation to deliver these goals to Africa and Africans”,
said Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary of ADEA.
The inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference will underscore the role of technology in catalyzing transformation within Africa’s education ecosystem. You can learn more about the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference or send an email to edtechconference@mastercardfdn.org.
About ADEA
The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is a critical voice for education in Africa. We aim to empower African countries to reform their education systems and position themselves for sustainable development. We are hosted as a special project within the African Development Bank Group and comprise the Ministers of Education and Training from the 55 African countries.
ADEA’s vision is to “serve as an open and flexible pan-African organization that informs and facilitates the transformation of education and training systems for resilience, human capital development, and youth empowerment in Africa”. And a goal of “empowering African countries to develop education and training systems that respond to their emergent needs and that drive Africa’s social and economic transformation sustainably”. ADEA operates through various structures and mechanisms, including the General Assembly, the Secretariat, and the Inter-Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs).
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.
Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning
The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning drives the innovative use of technology to improve access to quality education, particularly for the most underserved communities. The Centre works with a range of actors — including innovation hubs, EdTech entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, educators, and learners – to support the effective and impactful integration of technology in education, including the development, deployment and scale-up of promising EdTech innovations that boost learning and strengthen the education system.
