Rwanda Opens Applications for a New EdTech Fellowship to Scale Inclusive Learning Solutions

Rwanda’s growing education technology sector has received a major boost with the opening of applications for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship – Rwanda, a new program aimed at helping promising EdTech Companies move beyond pilots and scale solutions that improve learning outcomes nationwide.

The Fellowship, led by the Rwanda ICT Chamber in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, targets growth-stage EdTech Companies that are already operating in the market and are ready to expand their reach, strengthen their business models, and deepen their educational impact.

At a time when Rwanda continues to invest heavily in digital transformation and skills development, the program is designed to address one of the sector’s biggest challenges: turning promising education innovations into sustainable, scalable solutions that reach learners where they are most needed.

Moving Beyond Pilots

Over the past few years, Rwanda has seen a surge in EdTech innovation — much of it accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many EdTech solutions struggle to move beyond small pilots due to challenges around market access, financing, policy alignment, and evidence of learning impact.

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship – Rwanda responds directly to these gaps.

Selected EdTech Companies will take part in a 6-month intensive acceleration program, followed by 12 months of post-program support, combining business growth support, market access, and learning-science expertise. Each selected company will also receive USD 50,000 in equity-free venture support, disbursed based on agreed milestones.

A Partnership Built for Impact

The Fellowship is implemented in collaboration with Injini, Africa’s leading EdTech accelerator, and Carnegie Mellon University through its Learning Sciences for Innovators (LSFI) program.

This partnership brings together local ecosystem leadership, African EdTech acceleration experience, and global learning-science expertise, ensuring that participating companies are supported not only to grow commercially, but also to deliver high-quality, evidence-based learning solutions.

Who the Fellowship Is For

The program is open to Rwanda-based or Rwanda-led EdTech Companies — including for-profit, non-profit, and NGO-led organizations — that:

• Have a working EdTech product beyond pilot stage

• Demonstrate early traction or adoption

• Show potential to scale nationally or regionally

• Are committed to improving learning outcomes, especially for underserved learners

Each cohort will select up to eight (8) EdTech Companies through a competitive and impact-driven process.

Focus on Inclusion and Learner Outcomes

A core feature of the Fellowship is its focus on inclusive education. Participating companies are expected to intentionally serve groups such as young women, learners with disabilities, refugees, and underserved communities, and to track both reach and learning outcomes.

By the end of the program, participating EdTech Companies are expected to collectively reach at least 40,000 learners across Rwanda.

Strengthening Rwanda’s EdTech Ecosystem

Beyond supporting individual companies, the Fellowship also aims to strengthen Rwanda’s broader EdTech ecosystem. This includes improved coordination among ecosystem players, stronger engagement with policymakers and education institutions, and building long-term capacity within the Rwanda ICT Chamber to support EdTech growth beyond the life of the program.

The initiative aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), reinforcing national priorities around digital skills, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Applications Now Open

Applications for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship – Rwanda are now open.

Eligible EdTech Companies are encouraged to apply via www.edtech.rw and be part of a program shaping the next phase of Rwanda’s education technology journey.

About Partners

Rwanda ICT Chamber 

Rwanda ICT Chamber is a member-based organization representing the interests of Rwanda’s private technology sector. Established in 2011, the Chamber supports tech companies through advocacy, ensuring an enabling digital business environment. The Chamber also strengthens access to markets and finance by linking tech companies with investors, funding programs, and financial institutions, and delivers targeted capacity-building initiatives to enhance skills, innovation, and competitiveness. Through close collaboration with local and international partners, Rwanda ICT Chamber plays a central role in accelerating inclusive digital transformation and driving a sustainable digital economy in Rwanda.

For more information about the ICT Chamber, please visit https://www.ictchamber.rw/ 

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. 

For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org