The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
SCALING INNOVATIVE GROWTH-STAGE EDTECH ENTERPRISES
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship is a 3-year catalytic acceleration program designed to bridge the education gap for underserved young people in Ethiopia. Reach for Change, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, will support the scaling of three cohorts, each comprising 12 EdTech enterprises, specifically targeting initiatives that enhance inclusive learning in Ethiopia. This support will be provided through coaching, funding, networking, and post-acceleration support for two years. Additionally, we will focus on cultivating cross-sector collaborations and enhancing Ethiopia's national ecosystem and policy for EdTech products and solutions.
Unleashing the power of technology for education
Inclusive education for all children in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, access to quality education remains a challenge for many. Technology has the power to revolutionize education and provide access to quality education for all children, regardless of their background or circumstances. Local EdTech entrepreneurs have a unique opportunity to develop inclusive education solutions by building on existing technologies and adapting them to the needs of the Ethiopian educational sector. EdTech Fellows will be selected for their potential to address the diverse needs of underserved communities.
Apply for the First cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship
Become an EdTech Fellow
Applications for the first cohort of EdTech Fellows in Ethiopia are now open! We will support 12 growth-stage enterprises with tech-enabled solutions designed to increase access to inclusive learning opportunities for children and young people in Ethiopia to scale their impact.
Group-based peer learning sessions with fellow EdTech entrepreneurs
Access to science of learning courses from Carnegie Mellon University
Visibility for your work through impactful storytelling
Equity-free funding of USD 60,000 for each entreprise
Selection Criteria
The applicants must offer tech-enabled solutions designed to increase access to inclusive learning opportunities for children and young people (3 to 35 years) in Ethiopia, preferably those in underserved communities such as girls, out-of-school learners, and children/young people with disabilities or who are internally displaced.
The use of tech-enabled solution can be demonstrated in one or more of the following ways:
- Utilises mobile, broadband, digital and/or information technology;
- Has the potential to use mobile broadband, digital and/or information technology to improve the quality of educational outcomes to the target group;
- Promotes connectivity and access to the solution particularly to underserved populations or has the potential of doing so.
Applicants must be growth-stage oganisations, incorporated in Ethiopia, (co-)owned by an entrepreneur of Ethiopian nationality. A variety of legal forms will be considered: from non-profits to profitable companies.
The entrepreneur must offer a new tech-based educational solution. It must have been implemented with the primary target group and running for at least 2 years. The organisation must be able to demonstrate the potential for impact by presenting results.
The entrepreneur must have an ambition to scale the solution to a significant share of the target group, and should have identified a potential way to do it. We are keen to support solutions that have the potential to reach 8,000 direct learners within one year of program participation.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are currently able to generate revenue and that they are committed to and on track to identify a sustainable business model, that will permit them to dedicate resources to pursue impact scaling.
Applying organizations must have a diverse team that understands the local context to influence policy and systems change. A clear project owner who will be responsible for the scaling of the solution and will take part in all activities in the program is required.
Key Dates and documents for Search and Selection 2024
Application and Stages | First cohort 2024
To apply, each candidate must fill out an online form in English, where they will have to describe the social problem, the solution they propose, and their enterprise capacity and needs. The application does not need to be completed in one go, but you do need to access it through the same link and the same device. The application must be submitted by 23:59 EAT on May 6th 2024. The 12 selected EdTech Fellows will be announced on May 21st.
Please, read carefully the Terms and Conditions for The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship 2024, as they contain important and detailed information about the program, the selection criteria, stages, and award fund.
Information Session
Watch the recording of our Information Session for Applicants, hosted by the team of Reach for Change on April 24 2024.
Apply until May 6th!
Be a part of our journey towards scaling innovative EdTech enterprises in Ethiopia!
Fill in the online application formAbout us
Reach for Change
Reach for Change is a global non-profit organization unleashing the power of local social entrepreneurs for children and youth.
The Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.