Rinchi
TechInAfrica – The Mastercard Foundation Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT has opened a Request for Proposal (RFP), calling for growth-stage EdTech startups to apply for the initiative and get a chance to grow their businesses while at the same time making a contribution to improve the quality of Africa’s education. The submissions are already opened and will end on November 21st, 2019.
Mastercard Foundation Center’s Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT is located in Kigali, Rwanda. It works together with governments, EdTech innovators and developers, as well as other stakeholders to find and address challenges facing Africa’s young generation who pursue their secondary education.
After the submission process, they will select EdTech companies to take part in a minimum of 12-month’s mentorship program. In addition, they will also receive financial support and the opportunity to pilot test and scale their businesses.
To apply for the program, innovators need to submit their proposals which contain either:
- Make professional development for in-service teachers more accessible and affordable, as well as minimizes their out-of-classroom time, or
- Have rich content that can improve the quality, relevance, and accessibility to in-school and out-of-school secondary school students.
Speaking on the program, Joseph Nsengimana, Regional Director at Mastercard Foundation Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT said, “Our aim is to create an active connection between those who need the solutions and those who create them. Solutions often do not consider the on-the-ground limitations from both a training perspective and the technical environment. We’re talking about co-creation every step of the way.”
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT was built with the mission to enable 30 million young Africans to have fulfilling work by 2030. The mission is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy. The Foundation believes that technology has the ability to improve the quality of education in Africa. Even so, many tech entrepreneurs and innovators in the continent are having difficulties grow and scale their businesses.
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT will support entrepreneurs to scale up their innovative solutions, both in financing and in skills mentoring. To apply for the program, you must meet these following criteria:
- A registered company that is already post-product with potential to scale (in operations for two years and beyond)
- Majority of African-led/owned companies
- Have a for-profit or non-for-profit operating model
- Companies are operating or having interested in moving into Africa’s education market
- Companies have products that address: (1) teachers’ professional development; (2) have enriched content that increases affordability and accessibility for learners.
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in ICT was built with the mission to enable 30 million young Africans to have fulfilling work by 2030. The mission is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy. The Foundation believes that technology has the ability to improve the quality of education in Africa. Even so, many tech entrepreneurs and innovators in the continent are having difficulties grow and scale their businesses.
If your business meets the qualifications above and you are interested in getting more information about the program, please click here.
Source: biztechafrica.com
