Sahara Consult, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is spearheading the "Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship." Launched on April 17th, 2024, this initiative aims to improve access to quality and relevant education by strengthening the capacity of EdTech companies, particularly those targeting underserved communities.

The call for applications, which closed on May 21st, 2024, garnered significant interest. After a rigorous judging process, ten innovative EdTech companies were selected and announced as the first cohort of EdTech Fellows on June 7th, 2024. These companies include Shuleyetu Innovations Limited , Mtabe, Smartdarasa Company Limited , Infotaaluma Company Limited, ShuleSoft, Smartcore Enterprise Limited, Kilimanjaro Planetarium (Rada 360 Ltd), MITz Group Company Limited, Fiqra Technologies, and Taifa Technovation Hub. These fellows are at the forefront of developing solutions to enhance learning and educational management in Tanzania.

On June 19th, 2024, Sahara Consult and the Mastercard Foundation successfully concluded a two-day training program at Four Points by Sheraton in Dar es Salaam. The training was led by experts from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), including Dr. Tutelani Asino and Marti Louw. The sessions covered critical areas such as the importance of learning sciences, adaptive learning strategies, and the application of artificial intelligence in education. This foundational knowledge equips the fellows to refine their EdTech solutions, making them more effective and user-centric.

From July 8th to July 10th, 2024, the fellows attended the EdTech Conference in Abuja, Nigeria. This event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with key leaders and innovators dedicated to improving education standards across Africa.

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Bootcamp, held from July 22nd to 26th, 2024, in Bagamoyo, provided ten selected fellows with an intensive, five-day program designed to enhance their business acumen and technical skills. The bootcamp opened with introductions and an inspiring keynote address by the Sahara Consult Managing Director, building a strong sense of community. The training covered essential topics for business growth, including managing technical debts, mastering the software development life cycle, implementing Agile methodologies, and utilizing Scrum and Kanban frameworks. Fellows also explored integrating development and operations, strategies for recruiting and retaining tech talent, ensuring inclusivity and safety, and measuring the impact of their innovations through monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks. Additionally, they learned to align their solutions with government policies, communicate their impact effectively, and adhere to regulatory best practices.

Currently, the fellows are undergoing business and financial readiness assessments, a critical phase of the Fellowship. These assessments evaluate their technical capabilities and identify areas needing further support. This stage is vital as it provides a clear roadmap for personalized assistance, ensuring each fellow can excel and bring their innovative solutions to fruition.

The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, through its comprehensive support and training, empowers EdTech innovators to create impactful, user-centric educational technologies. This initiative is set to improve learning experiences across Tanzania, particularly for underserved communities