Overview
Across Africa, EdTech Hub partners with governments, local institutions, and development agencies to strengthen how evidence informs the use of technology in education. From shaping national strategies to generating research rooted in local realities, we work to ensure that technology serves learning and inclusion. Our focus is on supporting decision-makers with the evidence they need to improve learning outcomes — particularly for the most marginalised learners.
How We Engage
Africa is a region of innovation and reform in education, yet persistent barriers continue to limit access, equity, and quality. Many governments are turning to technology with the hope of expanding opportunity, but efforts are often fragmented and under-resourced, with limited evidence on what truly works.
EdTech Hub exists to help bridge this gap. We provide governments and partners with practical, timely evidence and technical expertise that supports long-term systems change. Our work is deeply collaborative and grounded in local contexts, helping ensure that investments in EdTech are not only effective but also inclusive and sustainable.
We bring together evidence, contextual expertise, and trusted partnerships through an integrated approach to support governments in making thoughtful, informed decisions about the role of technology in education. Where relevant, we test solutions in sandboxes to ensure practical, contextually relevant insights. Our work strengthens systems by focusing on equity, relevance, and long-term impact.
Inform decisions with evidence
We provide timely and practical insights which help governments understand what works, for whom, and in which contexts.
Improve coordination and coherence
We work alongside ministries to align EdTech efforts across departments and partners, reducing duplication and boosting collective impact.
Place equity at the centre
We support the development of strategies that address the needs of girls, learners with special educational needs and disabilities, and those in low-resource environments.
Strengthen systems for lasting change
Our evidence helps build policy frameworks and institutional capacity, ensuring EdTech investments are meaningful, scalable, and sustainable.
Where We Work
These are the main places in Africa where we focus our work. Click to learn more about the support we provide and our activities. This list is not exhaustive, and we also collaborate elsewhere in the region.
Kenya
Supporting the shift to a competency-based curriculum by generating evidence, strengthening systems, and ensuring inclusive use of technology for the most marginalised learners.
Learn moreSierra Leone
Providing embedded support to shape the national EdTech strategy, and testing innovative technologies to improve teacher deployment and retention.
Learn moreMalawi
Working with the Ministry of Education to co-create tools, frameworks, and inclusive approaches that strengthen EdTech planning and delivery.
Learn moreGhana
Supporting the use of education data for decision-making and improving the design and evaluation of large-scale EdTech initiatives.
Learn moreTanzania
Helping strengthen national EdTech strategy and implementation through embedded support, research, and collaboration with key partners.
Learn morePortfolio Updates
Story of Change
In recent years, Northern Ghana has made significant strides in providing and expanding educational opportunities for girls, aiming to encourage returns to school, encourage classroom attendance, and combat early child marriages – a culture still practised in some communities.
A parent from the Zarantinga community shares how nudge messages positively influenced his perspective, encouraging him to prioritize his daughter’s education.
Discover More of Our Work in the Region
EdTech Hub contributes expertise to initiatives in African countries, supporting their efforts to close evidence gaps, and improve learning outcomes.
Supporting African Ministries of Education
The IDRC Africa EdTech Initiative is a three-year programme designed to strengthen the capacity of Ministries of Education in select African countries to coordinate and collaborate with national education research organisations, networks, and groups. Its goal is to enable Ministries to co-design and drive context-specific EdTech research. This research will inform evidence-based implementation strategies and national-level policy development, ensuring that technology investments genuinely improve teaching and learning outcomes. The initiative will initially focus on Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal, where partners have strong relationships with Ministries and a clear understanding of education priorities and EdTech evidence gaps.
Learn moreContributing expertise to IDRC’s Empowering Teachers Initiative (ETI)
The Empowering Teachers Initiative (ETI) is a research-for-development programme that aims to improve teaching and learning in low- and middle-income countries by strengthening the equity, quality, and efficiency of teacher professional development (TPD) systems.
Learn moreEvidence from Our Work in Africa
Working Towards Education Success Using Data: A Review of Ghana’s Journey Towards Improved Learning Outcomes Using Data
The sub-Saharan Africa region is trapped in a learning crisis with devastating implications for children. The Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation, with children losing an estimated equivalent of…
EdTech Hub Supported the Government of Ghana’s Effective Use of Data for Decision-Making
This case study documents the Ministry of Education’s journey in Ghana towards making better use of data to guide policy and practice, and highlights how EdTech Hub has supported them…
Behind the Screen: Teachers Co-Designing WhatsApp AI Tools
As AI becomes an increasingly prominent part of classrooms around the world, questions about its role in teaching and learning are intensifying. Yet too often, teachers are missing from the…
How might low- and middle-income countries ensure embedded AI tech allows for alignment with local curriculum, assessment, and teacher needs?
How might low- and middle-income countries ensure embedded AI tech allows for alignment with local curriculum, assessment, and teacher needs? EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory is exploring how education systems can…
Building Foundational Learning through Technology in Sierra Leone — Evaluating the Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of Two EdTech Models
This study evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three implementation modalities for One Billion’s onecourse: standard (one-tablet-per-learner), tablet-sharing (one tablet shared by two learners), and projector (whole class). This intervention…
Raising Readers — Testing Methods for Enhancing Reading through Technology in Kenya
This research explores how technology can best be used to strengthen parental and caregiver engagement in children’s reading. Through this work on testing various modalities (training, nudges, feedback loops, incentives,…
Gender Equity in Teacher Participation in Tanzania’s Professional Development Programme: Adaptations and Barriers for Female Teachers
Imagine stepping into Tanzanian rural schools full of potential where every teacher’s voice can shape brighter futures. Yet a significant portion of female teachers rarely lead discussions, make decisions, or…
Contributing Expertise to IDRC’s Empowering Teachers Initiative
The Empowering Teachers Initiative (ETI) is a research-for-development programme working to improve teaching and learning practices in low- and middle-income countries by strengthening the equity, quality, and efficiency of teacher…
Building EdTech Research Coordination Capacity in African Ministries of Education
About The IDRC Africa EdTech Initiative is a three-year programme designed to strengthen the capacity of Ministries of Education in select African countries to coordinate and collaborate with national education…
The EdTech Hub Team Behind the Work
Evidence for Decision-Making
Draw on evidence and publications from African countries to guide policy and practice decisions.
