• ADQ and the Gates Foundation have announced a four-year, $40m partnership to scale the responsible use of AI and EdTech to improve foundational learning outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa, with ADQ contributing up to $20m. The announcement was made during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, alongside a visit by Bill Gates to the UAE.
• The initiative targets early literacy and numeracy, as nine in ten children in sub-Saharan Africa are unable to read or do basic maths by age 10, despite the region being set to host one-third of the world’s youth by 2050. Funding will support the AI-for-Education programme and a new EdTech and AI Fund is expected to launch next year to scale proven solutions at a national level.
• The partnership addresses major funding and evidence gaps in EdTech, where over 93% of products in low- and middle-income countries lack proof of learning impact and sub-Saharan Africa attracts just 2% of global EdTech venture capital. The effort aligns with commitments made at the 2025 African Union Summit to end learning poverty by 2035.

Press release:

ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical  infrastructure and global supply chains and the Gates Foundation today announced a landmark partnership to  accelerate the responsible and high-impact adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and education technology (EdTech) to improve learning outcomes for children across sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement was made on the sidelines  of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, during a visit by Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, to the UAE. 

As education systems evolve, digital learning platforms, data technologies, and AI-enabled solutions are increasingly  regarded as part of a nation’s essential infrastructure. Much like transport, energy, and logistics networks enable  economic activity, these tools help build the human capital and technological readiness required for long-term  competitiveness. By supporting this emerging dimension of educational infrastructure, ADQ is complementing its  investments in physical and digital assets with capabilities that will help shape and sustain future economies. 

By 2050, Africa will be home to one in every three of the world’s young people. Yet today, nine in ten children in the  region are unable to read or do basic math by age 10. This partnership will direct resources toward solutions that  reflect local needs, empower teachers, and support students, helping education systems build the capacity required  for sustained and scalable progress. Strengthening early-grade literacy and numeracy is essential to improving learning  outcomes throughout a child’s education and to supporting more growth across the region. 

The four-year partnership will deploy a combined $40 million, with ADQ contributing up to $20 million, to tackle  persistent education challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa by expanding the ethical use of AI through two flagship  programs.  

AI-for-Education, a global initiative launched in 2022, develops practical models of AI-enabled learning and provides  expert guidance to governments in the Global South. The EdTech and AI Fund, a new multi-investor vehicle set to  launch next year, will scale proven EdTech and AI solutions across sub-Saharan Africa. Jointly anchored by ADQ and  the Gates Foundation, it will be the first fund dedicated to national-level expansion of interventions shown to improve  foundational learning. Generative AI provides unique opportunities to enhance proven approaches such as structured  pedagogy, but evidence on what works is scarce. The sector also faces underfunding and low reach. More than 93 

percent of EdTech products in low and middle-income countries are not tested for proof-of-learning impact, only two percent of global EdTech venture capital is attracted by sub-Saharan Africa, and just four percent of children in the  region consistently use EdTech. 

Earlier this year, the Gates Foundation announced a USD 240 million expansion of its Global Education Program, a  four-year effort to help 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa and India learn more effectively by delivering cost-efficient and evidence-based solutions in partnership with governments. Building on this momentum, the UAE is  applying its strengths in innovation and technical deployment to accelerate the integration and scaling of AI in  education, contributing to the collective effort. 

“As part of the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI and technology-enabled solutions, this partnership underscores  ADQ’s dedication to delivering meaningful impact for current and future generations across global markets,” said His  Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. “As a responsible investor, we have focused on enabling the infrastructure that supports socio-economic development and  creating pathways for inclusive growth. While that has traditionally meant physical assets, the systems that support  learning, data, and intelligent technologies are becoming equally important to national development. By combining our  investment capabilities with the expertise of leading institutions, we aim to strengthen education systems, widen access  to opportunity, and equip millions of young people across the African continent with the skills they need to thrive in an  increasingly digital world.” 

“AI has enormous potential to transform learning and expand opportunity. This partnership brings together the  expertise needed to apply these tools responsibly and scale approaches already showing results,” said Bill Gates. “The UAE has shown leadership in using innovation to expand opportunity, and together we’ll build on that momentum  to help children develop the foundational skills that shape their futures.” 

With increasing momentum for education reform across Africa, reflected in commitments made at the 2025 African  Union Summit to end learning poverty by 2035, the opportunity for meaningful progress has never been greater.  Advances in technology, expanding local expertise, and increasing collaboration are creating a stronger foundation for  change. By supporting efforts to apply AI and EdTech in ways that meet the needs of teachers and students, this  partnership aims to help accelerate learning gains and contribute to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the  continent’s young people.