Mastercard Foundation Hosts EdTech Meeting in Addis Ababa to Improve African Youth Employment

To evaluate the effects, promote systemic changes in education, and further the Young Africa initiative, stakeholders from all over Africa convened.

The Mastercard Foundation organized the two-day EdTech Mondays Partner Convening, which brought together important stakeholders and EdTech partners from all over Africa in Addis Ababa.

Nearly sixty people attended the gathering, which had as its topic "Shifting Mindsets, Deepening Impact," to assess the initiative's accomplishments, emphasize system-level change, and match its future with the Mastercard Foundation's larger Young Africa objective. Ethiopia Country Director Mefthe Tadesse opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of education in helping young people and underprivileged areas find respectable employment. She emphasized that young people are at the center of the Foundation's plan because Africa is expected to have the largest workforce in the world by 2030.

By 2030, 30 million young Africans, including 10 million in Ethiopia – 70% of whom are women and 10% come from displaced or disabled communities – will be able to get employment thanks to the Young Africa initiative. Although the scope of need is still enormous, the plan has so far connected almost 5 million young people – 63% of whom are women – to possibilities.

Highlights of the EdTech Mondays Report were presented by Suraj Shah, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Thought Leadership at CITL. He noted that the project reached about 40 million viewers across eight regions in 2024 – an 80% increase from the previous year – through TV, radio, and digital channels.

Shah highlighted that systemic change, cooperation, and intentional action are necessary for long-term education reform – not just technology. The EdTech Policy Academy's work with 22 nations – five of which are actively developing national EdTech policies – was one of the report's quantifiable impacts. It also highlighted advancements in inclusive education frameworks, curriculum reform, and an increasing institutional movement toward efficient use of technology in the classroom, thanks to the EdTech Fellowship.

EdTech Mondays are demonstrating the impact at the community level by showcasing local perspectives, experiences, and regional languages. While issues including short-term funding, low monitoring capacity, and unequal government engagement continue to exist, participants identified potential for improved collaboration with educators, students, digital businesses, and regional agencies. Peer learning sessions, a town hall with an Ethiopian focus, and reaffirmed promises to alignment, accountability, and platform development marked the end of the two-day event.