The Mastercard Foundation has pledged $500 million over the next decade to support African universities, aiming to drive economic growth and prepare youth for the workforce.
Key facts
- •The Mastercard Foundation committed $500 million over 10 years to transform African higher education.
- •The initiative aims to support at least 150 institutions over the next decade.
- •The AHEFT Prize evaluates universities on systemic impact, including teaching, research, and employment transitions.
- •The program aligns with the Foundation's 'Young Africa Works' strategy to provide 30 million young people with dignified work by 2030.
- •A convening for higher education leaders is set for September 22 in Accra.
The Mastercard Foundation has announced a $500 million, ten-year investment to transform higher education across Africa. The initiative aims to strengthen universities as engines for talent development, innovation, and leadership. This commitment is part of the Foundation's broader strategy to enable 30 million young people to access dignified work by 2030.
By the numbers
Focus on Systemic Transformation
The investment is channeled through the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize. Rather than focusing on individual achievements, the program seeks to foster institution-wide change by evaluating universities on criteria such as community engagement, inclusion, student experience, and research impact. The goal is to move beyond isolated excellence to create sustainable models that influence national and regional development. Winning institutions receive financial awards and programmatic support to scale their initiatives. The Foundation plans to support at least 150 institutions over the decade-long period. Beyond the prize, the Foundation utilizes Higher Education Collaboratives to partner with universities in sectors like health, agriculture, and climate resilience.
Strategic Goals and Implementation
Dr. John Nkengasong, the Foundation's Executive Director for Higher Education, Collaboratives and Strategic Initiatives, stated that the program aims to help African nations build knowledge-based economies. By strengthening the higher education ecosystem, the Foundation intends to improve transitions from learning to employment and entrepreneurship. The initiative also includes a network of over 200 African higher education institutions designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. A convening of higher education leaders is scheduled for September 22 in Accra to begin this collaborative process.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by AllAfrica.
