Mastercard Foundation

Foundation hosting higher education transformation initiatives and funding EdTech startups, assistive technology research, and creative economy programs across Africa.

2026-05-052026-09-28

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
5 MayThe Standard
… ung people through initiatives focused on leadership, accountability and community engagement across the continent.Sub-Saharan Africa will need to create an estimated 15 million new jobs annually by 2030 to absorb new labour market entrants, according to the Mastercard Foundation …
Why formal jobs remain out of reach for Africa's youth

Society

African leaders urge higher education reforms for economic growth

The News

African leaders, universities, governments and industry players have called for major reforms in higher education to ensure universities produce skills, research and innovation that can drive economic growth and create jobs. The call was made at the inaugural Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the MasterCard Foundation, which focused on how universities can better prepare young people for a changing labour market while strengthening research, innovation and links with industry.

27 September 2026 · The Standard →

Yesterday

African leaders urge higher education reforms for economic growth
African leaders, universities, governments and industry players have called for major reforms in higher education to ensure universities produce skills, research and innovation that can drive economic growth and create jobs. The call was made at the inaugural Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the MasterCard Foundation, which focused on how universities can better prepare young people for a changing labour market while strengthening research, innovation and links with industry.
27 September 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 24 September

Universities urged to link learning to jobs as Sh64.5bn prize targets reform
Education leaders at a Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra launched the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize, backed by about Sh64.5 billion over the next decade, which aims to recognise at least 150 African institutions demonstrating sustained transformation. Five universities—Addis Ababa University, the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Muni University, and the University of Rwanda—were named inaugural laureates, each receiving about Sh387 million to expand initiatives focused on teaching, research, employment pathways and community impact.
24 September 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 25 July

Twelve EdTech startups receive Sh13 million funding for inclusive education
Twelve early-stage Kenyan EdTech startups will each receive up to USD 100,000 (Sh13 million) in equity-free funding under the fourth cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship to scale inclusive learning solutions. The 18-month programme targets startups addressing barriers to equitable education for learners with disabilities, refugees, displaced and underserved communities, and girls and young women, and includes technical assistance in product development, business strategy and market access support.
25 July 2026 · Capital News →
Funding gaps hamper growth of Kenya's education technology startups
Funding shortages are limiting Kenya's EdTech startups' ability to scale and reach learners, particularly in underserved communities. The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship has selected 12 startups for an 18-month acceleration programme aimed at improving fundraising readiness and market visibility.
25 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 17 July

Africa's green transition hindered by infrastructure gaps
An opinion piece argues that Africa, despite holding 30% of global critical mineral reserves and 60% of the world's best solar resources, receives only 2% of global clean energy investment. The gap is attributed to pricing issues rooted in currency volatility, sovereign-risk perception, and weak regulation, as rich countries borrow at 1–4% interest while poorer countries face rates around 14%.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Africa's green potential stalled by financing and infrastructure gaps
Africa holds 30% of global critical mineral reserves and 60% of the world's best solar resources, yet receives only 2% of global clean energy investment, constrained by high borrowing costs and weak infrastructure that hinder the continent's role in the global green transition.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 6 July

Government plans 10-year irrigation expansion for food security
The government has committed to expanding irrigation across the country through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP) 2025–2035, which aims to expand irrigation by one million acres, optimise productivity in existing public schemes, strengthen farmer-led irrigation, and unlock greater private sector investment.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Government plans 10-year irrigation expansion to boost food security
The government has committed to expanding irrigation across the country through a 10-year National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (2025–2035) that aims to expand irrigation by one million acres, optimise productivity in existing public schemes, strengthen farmer-led irrigation, and unlock private sector investment as part of efforts to strengthen food security and build climate resilience.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 1 July

Sanara channels Ksh1.2B to 330 creative enterprises
Sanara has disbursed over KSh1.2 billion in commercial financing and grants to support Kenya's creative economy, reaching over 20,000 young creatives and more than 330 creative enterprises across six counties. The programme, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by HEVA Fund, SNDBX Ubuntu, Baraza Media Lab and GoDown Arts Centre, has also provided grants to more than 3,000 creative startups in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Kakamega and Turkana counties.
1 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 5 June

Mastercard Foundation study identifies assistive technology gaps across Africa
A new Mastercard Foundation report covering all 54 African countries finds that millions of Africans with disabilities face significant barriers to education, employment, entrepreneurship and digital participation due to limited access to assistive technology, despite growing policy commitments and innovation efforts.
5 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 5 May

Africa creates three million formal jobs annually against twelve million entrants
Africa's formal job creation of three million annually falls far short of the up to 12 million young people entering the labour market yearly, leaving graduates competing for unstable work in the informal sector. In Kenya specifically, 85 per cent of the 848,200 jobs created in 2023 were informal, and graduates take an average of five years to secure employment after completing their studies.
5 May 2026 · The Standard →