Anthropic, Rwanda and ALX roll out Chidi AI learning companion across Africa
Anthropic has announced a partnership with the Government of Rwanda and African tech training provider ALX to deploy Chidi, an AI learning companion built on Claude, to hundreds of thousands of learners across Africa.
Under the new collaboration, Chidi will be integrated into Rwanda’s national education system and rolled out across ALX technology training programs for students and young professionals.
Rwanda links AI rollout to Vision 2050 workforce plans
In Rwanda, the initiative will start with AI training for up to 2,000 teachers and a cohort of civil servants. Participants will learn how to use Claude to support lesson planning, classroom practice and day-to-day productivity, with the aim of building sustained AI literacy inside public institutions rather than running one-off workshops.
Graduates of the pilot will receive a year of access to Claude tools, including Claude Pro for individual use and Claude Code for developer teams in government, alongside exploration of Claude for Education with university staff. The objective is to keep AI skills active in both classrooms and workplaces after the formal training ends.
Rwanda’s government is positioning the work as part of its Vision 2050 strategy to build a knowledge-based economy. The program is being framed as a route for students and graduates to apply AI skills to local challenges, join global companies and launch startups, although the announcement does not yet set specific targets for outcomes or sectors.
Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation in Rwanda, links the deployment directly to long-term workforce planning: “Rwanda’s Vision 2050 places youth and technology at the core of national progress, and our goal is to build a workforce equipped for the opportunities of the 21st century. This collaboration allows us to explore innovative AI tools that could enhance learning, support educators, strengthen developer capabilities, and provide new forms of digital assistance across selected institutions. These areas remain under review, and by beginning capacity building for civil servants, we ensure our workforce gains the foundational skills to engage with emerging technologies responsibly.”
On Anthropic’s side, the project is being used as a testbed for how large-scale AI deployments can be embedded into public systems rather than run as short pilots.
Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic, says: "Rwanda's comprehensive approach to embracing and integrating AI—training teachers, involving policymakers, and building a dedicated working group—creates the foundation for responsible AI deployment. By working with the government and ALX, we're learning how to ensure AI serves local educational needs while reaching students at scale."
ALX adds Chidi to training for 200,000 learners
Beyond Rwanda’s public sector focus, the same tool will sit at the core of ALX’s EdTech training programs across Africa. All ALX learners will be able to access Claude via Chidi, which is positioned as a “Socratic mentor.” Instead of providing direct answers, the system is designed to guide users with questions and hints, aiming to build problem-solving skills alongside technical knowledge.
Anthropic reports that since Chidi was rolled out on November 4, learners have already logged more than 1,100 conversations and nearly 4,000 learning sessions, with nine out of ten users reporting positive experiences. Early use cases include working through coding problems, understanding data science concepts and practicing structured reasoning.
ALX is framing Chidi as part of a broader strategy to link AI skills with employability and career progression. Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of ALX, says: "This is not just about bringing technology to Africa; it's about co-creating the future of learning to unlock the continent's full potential. Chidi transforms how our students build their capabilities, their confidence, and ultimately their careers. As they master AI-powered learning today, they become the architects of Africa's technology-driven future tomorrow."
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The EdTech Innovation Hub Awards celebrate excellence in global education technology, with a particular focus on workforce development, AI integration, and innovative learning solutions across all stages of education.
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Submissions are open to organizations across the UK, the Americas, and internationally. Entries should highlight measurable impact, whether in K–12 classrooms, higher education institutions, or lifelong learning settings.
