Ethiopia EdTech Week Returns with Greater Emphasis on Investment and Inclusive Learning

Ethiopia EdTech Week returns with a sharper focus, linking edtech startups, capital, and policy to scale inclusive, gender-responsive learning.

Following the momentum of its inaugural edition, Ethiopia EdTech Week is set to return for a second year, signaling a growing push to position education technology as a core pillar of the country’s learning and innovation agenda. Organized by Reach for Change Ethiopia in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education, the 2026 edition will take place from March 25–26 in Addis Ababa at the Ethiopian Science Museum. 

Building on last year’s theme, “Innovate, Scale, and Transform: Unlocking the Future of Learning through EdTech,” this year’s theme, “Integrating EdTech for Inclusive, Impactful, and Gender-Responsive Learning,” centers on one of Ethiopia’s core education challenges: scaling technology-enabled learning in ways that are equitable, context-aware, and responsive to gender disparities.

At the core of the 2026 edition is the High-Level EdTech Demo Day and Investment Forum, designed to connect emerging solutions with capital, policy, and institutional backing. Scheduled for March 25, the Demo Day will feature startups from the second cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, who will present their solutions to investors, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders. The event will also mark the launch of Cohort III of the fellowship.

Alongside startup exhibitions, the event’s agenda also includes policy dialogues, ecosystem conversations, and targeted networking sessions intended to bridge longstanding gaps between innovators and decision-makers. Investors and development partners are expected to play a more prominent role this year, reflecting a growing emphasis on sustainability and viable business models.

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowshi, implemented in Ethiopia by Reach for Change, is a three-year acceleration program supporting locally grounded EdTech ventures through funding, technical assistance, and ecosystem access. This year’s event highlights Cohort II, comprising 13 companies operating across primary, secondary, and higher education, 46% of which are women-led. 

Collectively, the cohort has reached 97,318 learners, 93.6% of its target, while generating 1,534 jobs and establishing 96 partnerships. Business performance indicators show that 84% of fellows have increased revenue, with three securing additional funding. The cohort has also delivered 22 new or improved solutions, while 11 companies have generated evidence on learning outcomes.  

SOURCE : SHEGA.CO