A Community-Led Push for EdTech Community Collaborations in Ethiopia

A year and a half ago, in Autumn 2023, a dozen people working in Ethiopia’s EdTech space gathered at Shega’s office to discuss the possibility of building a dedicated EdTech community. They shared the belief that there was a gap in sustained dialogue and collaboration within the industry and held a vision for creating a platform that would bridge these divides and foster collective growth.  

That gathering would mark the first session of what is now officially known as the EdTech Ethiopia Community Meetup. “The community evolved from inviting people we know in the industry and expanded by people reaching out to us and through our posts on social media platforms.” Says Helinna Ayalew, co-creator and organizer of the EdTech Community. 

Helinna, who returned to Ethiopia after five years at Liquid Intelligent Technologies in Kenya, had seen firsthand how structured communities bolstered EdTech ecosystems in other African countries. Her work across the continent revealed a key problem in Ethiopia: while digital education efforts existed, there was no sustained platform for dialogue, resource-sharing, or partnership among stakeholders. 

The inaugural meetup of the community centered on pinpointing challenges within Ethiopia’s EdTech sector and fostering open dialogue around them. What began with just 12 participants has since expanded into a network of over 350 members, including founders, developers, educators, investors, and policymakers. Today, the community serves as a consistent space for collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of ideas.

According to Helinna, each two-hour session follows a structured format. Participants begin with introductions, sharing their backgrounds and current work. A spotlight segment allows one member to present their business or organization, discussing key challenges and partnership needs. This is followed by a themed content section that could include a panel discussion, presentation, or curated conversation. The final part of the session, called "asks and offers," encourages attendees to request support or provide help to others. 

“The meetings conclude with informal networking, which many participants cite as one of the most valuable elements of the experience.” She told Shega. 

Beyond its structure, the Meetup reflects a broader shift toward sector-wide community collaboration. EdTech Mondays, which aired its first installment in October 2022, has played a foundational role in this evolution. Since 2023, the program has gone national, broadcasting on Fana FM and 10 other affiliated radio stations across the country. It was also instrumental in inspiring the formation of the EdTech Ethiopia Community Meetup.

The June 2025 edition of EdTech Mondays, produced by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Shega Media and Technology, spotlighted this very idea: real collaboration in EdTech demands more than aligned policies. It requires mutual awareness and shared understanding among diverse players government, the private sector, educators, and technologists. 

“Workshops are especially important when you're immersed in your own work and unaware of what others are doing,” said Yabebal Tadesse (PhD), Co-founder and Scientific Director of 10 Academy. “They create visibility, spark collaboration, and help align resources.” He added in a conversation that emphasized the value of structured, recurring engagements like meetups and workshops in strengthening the ecosystem. 

His organization, 10 Academy is a pan-African training initiative that equips high-potential young people with skills in data science, AI, and remote work readiness. With operations spanning multiple countries, the organization connects African talent to global job opportunities and has partnered with major employers to provide real-world projects and career pipelines. Its success rests on coordinated collaboration between education providers, governments, and employers an approach Yabebal believes the EdTech sector in Ethiopia must emulate.

He further noted that collaboration at the organizational level, especially across government and nonprofits, requires dedicated time and institutional capacity, which are often lacking. For Ethiopia’s EdTech sector to thrive, this kind of cross-sector commitment is essential. 

The other panelist, Sofia Abdulkadir, founder of Greatness School and CEO of Sofia Media, also credits her involvement in the EdTech space with expanding the visibility and reach of her work. She believes that media exposure and community engagement are essential for growth, especially in a country where awareness of digital learning remains low.

Sofia adds that while digital learning has the potential to increase access to education for disadvantaged groups, many people still do not understand its benefits. Despite new policies and pilot programs, the perception that learning must occur in a traditional classroom setting continues to dominate. 

Efforts like the EdTech meet-up emerged in parallel with a growing national focus on digital education. 

In March 2023, Ethiopia launched a five-year Digital Education Strategy, a comprehensive five-year plan (2023–2028) developed by the Ministry of Education in partnership with stakeholders such as UNICEF, the World Bank, the Mastercard Foundation, and others. The strategy aims to address critical challenges in access, equity, and the quality of education nationwide by systematically integrating technology into all aspects of the education system.

However, gaps remain. Internet penetration across the country remains below 30%, with access to computers and online tools heavily concentrated in urban areas. The strategy has created a framework, but implementation remains uneven, and grassroots efforts like the EdTech Meetup have become critical in filling the practical and relational gaps. 

The Mastercard Foundation’s EdTech Fellowship, introduced in Ethiopia in 2024, offered another boost to the ecosystem. Providing up to $60,000 in equity-free funding, mentorship, and investor exposure, the fellowship helped catalyze new growth. The first cohort of selected startups, many of whom were active participants in the EdTech Meetup, saw impressive results: a 132% average revenue increase, 42 new partnerships, and over 250,000 new users supported. Helinna and her peers even organized preparatory workshops to help founders navigate the application process and improve their chances of success.

However, Helinna admits the initiative is not a silver bullet. The Meetup’s reach remains limited, particularly outside of Addis Ababa. Many educators and innovators across Ethiopia remain disconnected from these opportunities. “We need more platforms,” she says. “But what the Meetup has shown is that small, consistent efforts can yield real impact.” 

Indeed, as Ethiopia moves forward with its digital education agenda, platforms like this will be critical in translating policy into practice, nurturing trust between sectors, and ensuring that educational technology drives meaningful, inclusive learning outcomes.