Mastercard Foundation opens applications for third Tanzania EdTech fellowship cohort

Applications are now open for the 2026 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship in Tanzania, extending a program that supports growth-stage education technology companies as skills access and inclusive learning remain a priority across the region.

Mastercard Foundation has opened applications for the third cohort of its EdTech Fellowship in Tanzania, continuing a multi-year effort to support locally founded education technology companies working to improve access, quality, and inclusion in learning.

The 2026 fellowship is delivered in partnership with Sahara Consult and targets Tanzanian EdTech companies that have moved beyond early experimentation and are seeking structured support to scale their products, operations, and reach. Applications close on January 31, 2026.

The program is designed for growth-stage EdTech businesses operating in Tanzania that are already demonstrating traction and measurable impact. According to information shared by the organizers, the focus is on companies building solutions that address learning access, affordability, and outcomes, particularly for young people, women, persons with disabilities, and underserved communities.

Fellows selected for earlier cohorts received tailored technical support, business mentorship, and access to funding, alongside opportunities to collaborate with the Mastercard Foundation and other ecosystem actors. The third cohort continues that structure, with an emphasis on helping companies strengthen product performance, improve commercial sustainability, and prepare for long-term growth.

Support package combines funding, mentorship, and regulation guidance

The 2026 fellowship includes customized technical support to improve product quality and scalability, alongside personalized business mentorship focused on strategy, operations, and financial sustainability. Participating companies will also receive regulatory engagement support to help them navigate education and technology compliance requirements in Tanzania.

Additional elements include access to strategic partnerships across investors, schools, and policy stakeholders, as well as growth-focused support aimed at helping companies reach between eight thousand and ten thousand learners. Fellows will also be given access to short online courses from Carnegie Mellon University covering learning science.

The program offers up to seventy thousand US dollars in equity-free funding, with no ownership taken by the organizers, and includes one year of post-acceleration support after completion.

Fellowship aligns with broader youth employment strategy

The EdTech Fellowship sits within the Mastercard Foundation’s wider strategy to expand access to education and skills linked to employment. The Foundation’s work focuses on enabling young people in Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work, with education technology positioned as a key lever for reaching learners at scale.

Organizers note that the fellowship is intended to support companies that align their products with national education priorities and real market needs, rather than standalone pilots. Application materials must be complete and certified, and the organizers state that AI-generated or AI-assisted application responses are not permitted.

Applications for the 2026 cohort are open until January 31, 2026, at 23:59 East Africa Time.

ETIH Innovation Awards 2026

The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.