The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor ADQ have launched a four-year, US$40 million partnership aimed at transforming education systems across sub-Saharan Africa through artificial intelligence and education technology.
The initiative was announced on December 17 during a visit by Bill Gates to the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Under the partnership, ADQ will contribute up to US$20 million, with the remainder provided by the Gates Foundation.
The programme targets one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: poor foundational learning outcomes. Despite progress in school enrolment, millions of children across the continent still struggle with basic literacy and numeracy, limiting long-term economic and social prospects.
The funding will be channelled through two main vehicles. The first is AI-for-Education, a global programme launched in 2022 that develops practical AI-enabled learning models and provides technical support to governments across the Global South. The second is a new EdTech and AI Fund, a multi-investor vehicle set to launch next year and jointly anchored by ADQ and the Gates Foundation. The fund is designed to scale proven, technology-enabled education interventions at the national level.
“AI has enormous potential to transform learning and expand opportunity,” Bill Gates said, noting that the partnership aims to responsibly deploy tools that have already shown measurable impact. He added that the UAE’s leadership in innovation and digital transformation provides a strong foundation for scaling solutions that improve foundational skills for children.
ADQ’s Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, said the initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader commitment to advancing AI-driven solutions with real-world impact. He described education as a critical pillar for long-term development and human capital formation across emerging markets.
The new partnership builds on the Gates Foundation’s US$240 million expansion of its Global Education Program, announced earlier this year, which targets improved learning outcomes for 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa and India through evidence-based approaches.
The timing also coincides with renewed momentum around education reform in Africa. In October 2025, the ADEA Triennale held in Accra brought together policymakers and development partners to accelerate efforts to end learning poverty by 2035. The discussions reinforced the African Union’s Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034), which prioritises foundational learning, teacher development, and alignment with the future of work through digital innovation.
Digital education tools are increasingly viewed as a powerful lever for inclusion. In Kenya, Eneza Education has reached more than five million learners using basic mobile phones, contributing to improved exam performance. In Tanzania, the Ubongo platform delivers educational content to around 17 million children each week, highlighting the scalability of locally adapted, technology-driven solutions.
By combining public-sector engagement, private capital, and emerging technologies, the Gates Foundation–ADQ partnership aims to help African countries move beyond pilot projects and embed effective AI-powered learning tools into national education systems closing learning gaps and equipping the next generation with essential skills for a digital economy.
