Implemented by Reach for Change with support from the Mastercard Foundation, this initiative forms part of a broader effort to enhance collaboration and accelerate innovation in education. Guided by the theme “Strengthening Collaboration for EdTech Growth,” the event showcased the transformative power of partnerships and collective action, celebrating the innovators who are redefining the future of learning in Ethiopia.
The event brought together nearly 140 participants, including 45 women, representing EdTech Fellows, social entrepreneurs, ecosystem enablers, investors, media, and development partners such as UNICEF, IOM, Ethio Telecom, Safaricom, FSD Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Angels Network, Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies (AGGP), the International Institute of Education, Social Enterprise Ethiopia, and GAIN.
Organized as part of Reach for Change’s ongoing ecosystem support efforts, the event featured thought-provoking panel discussions that explored the intersections of education, investment, and technology. EdTech entrepreneurs, educators, and innovators actively contributed to these dialogues, sharing insights and experiences from across the sector. A dedicated special session led by Reach for Change highlighted its commitment to supporting ecosystem development and fostering partnerships that strengthen the EdTech landscape and facilitate collaborative growth.
In the afternoon, a learning session on user- centric marketing inspired participants to reimagine innovation through the lens of the learner and end users, emphasizing the importance of empathy driven design in educational technology. The event concluded with an interactive exhibition, where innovators showcased their EdTech solutions, sparking lively engagement, idea exchange, and potential collaborations among participants.
Celebrating Collaboration and Local Innovation
Opening the event, Mekdim Gulillat, Country Manager for Reach for Change Ethiopia, set the tone for the day with an inspiring message about partnership and shared progress.
Ethiopia’s education and innovation landscape is at a turning point. Across the country, brilliant entrepreneurs are developing homegrown digital solutions that enhance access, quality, and equity in learning. But as we all know, innovation alone is not enough. For great ideas to reach classrooms, we need partnerships.
She went on to highlight the impact of the 24 EdTech Fellows supported through the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, who are already transforming classrooms, creating jobs, and strengthening teachers’ capacity across the country.
True progress happens not in isolation but in community. This event celebrates that community, one that is vibrant, bold, and determined to reimagine education in Ethiopia.
Partnerships That Empower Teachers
Representing the Ministry of Education, Dr. Muluken Nigatu, CEO for Teachers and Educational Leaders Development, reaffirmed the government’s vision of empowering teachers through digital transformation. He added that digital tools can strengthen teachers’ development by providing access to online training, coaching, and peer-learning platforms especially for rural educators. “Let’s build systems where teachers are not just users of digital tools, but co-creators of digital content and co-leaders of innovation”, Dr. Muluken urged.
At the heart of education is the teacher. Through Ethiopia’s National Digital Education Strategy (2023–2028), we want technology to serve teachers and not replace them by helping them plan, prepare, and deliver high-quality lessons that are interactive, inclusive, and locally relevant. Let’s build systems where teachers are not just users of digital tools, but co-creators of digital content and co-leaders of innovation.
Voices from the Ecosystem: Hope, Learning, and Shared Growth
For many participants, the event was more than just a networking opportunity. It became a spark of collective hope. Betelehem Zewdie from R and D Group shared her vision for expanding such initiatives beyond Addis Ababa.
Opportunities like this are essential. Expanding them to regional areas could make an even greater impact by bringing decision makers and innovators together to drive real change.
Partnerships help us understand the communities we serve, both culturally and demographically. The ecosystem fosters a space to grow, create change, and do better for the people we serve.
This event reinforced my belief that partnerships are vital for Ethiopia’s education system. They signal a transformation from traditional approaches to technology-based learning that can reach anyone, anywhere.
A Call to Continue the Journey
The day concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen collaboration among policymakers, investors, innovators, and teachers. The Reach for Change team announced plans to continue partnership dialogues, organize upcoming capacity building sessions, and launch the third EdTech Fellowship cohort in 2026.
The Bigger Picture
The Partnership and Networking Event was more than a gathering. It became a collective moment of inspiration for inclusive and innovative education in Ethiopia. When the government, the private sector, and change makers come together, technology becomes more than a tool; it becomes a bridge to opportunity. The energy, ideas, and connections shared throughout the day will continue to drive stronger partnerships and deeper collaboration toward a future where every learner can thrive.
Innovation is not a single act. It is a shared journey, and today, Ethiopia is walking that journey together.
