The Mastercard Foundation ( www.MasterCardFdn.org ) has announced the launch of the African Higher Education Transformation Award (AHEFT), a unique annual award supported by a 10-year, US$500 million commitment. The AHEFT Award recognizes African higher education institutions that are playing a role in sustainable and systemic transformation and expanding opportunities for young people.
The first recipients of this prize are Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Muni University (Uganda), and the University of Rwanda (Rwanda). Each recipient will receive US$3 million to develop their transformative work through initiatives agreed upon with their institution to improve educational opportunities for young people in Africa.
“For twenty years, we have seen African institutions rethink what higher education can offer. The AHEFT award transforms this reality into a real dynamic: we support local excellence through a ten-year commitment, so that universities across the continent become engines of opportunity for millions of young people,” said Sewit Ahderom, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.
The winners of the AHEFT 2026 prize
- Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia
Category: Excellence in Research and Innovation
Recognized for its ability to align research with national priorities, strengthen workforce development, and directly link scientific knowledge to economic opportunities, public services, and community well-being. The partnership between AAU and Tikur Anbessa Hospital, which serves approximately 884,000 patients annually, enables large-scale clinical training, research, and service delivery.
- International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Burkina Faso
Category: Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Recognized for its innovation in a practical education system for engineering and technical disciplines, and for demonstrating how hands-on, problem-solving-oriented learning can produce highly employable graduates. Created by 16 African countries in the Sahel region, 2iE has trained over 13,000 graduates, 70% of whom found employment within 12 months of graduation and over 95% of whom remained to work in Africa in sectors such as water, climate, energy, and infrastructure.
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
Category: Excellence in Research and Innovation
Recognized for establishing one of Africa’s leading research and innovation ecosystems. Through platforms such as the Kumasi Business Incubator, the Innovation Centre, and the Technology Advisory Centre, KNUST transforms research into startups, industrial solutions, and societal benefits, demonstrating how science, technology, and entrepreneurship can drive economic transformation and job creation.
- Muni University (MU), Uganda
Category: Transition to Employment
Recognized for creating effective pathways to employment for refugees and disadvantaged youth. Through its RETI (Refugee and Host Community Youth Empowerment and Transformation Initiative), the university enabled nearly 70% of participants to find employment within three months of the initiative’s completion.
- University of Rwanda (UR), Rwanda
Sector: Excellence in Healthcare
Recognized for its central role in strengthening Rwanda’s health system and workforce through the training of over 26,000 healthcare professionals, the University of Rwanda’s community-based training model reaches nearly 500,000 people through clinical placements, outreach programs, and university health services. Today, the University of Rwanda has established itself as a regional leader in digital health, vaccinology, biomedical engineering, and health systems innovation.
The AHEFT Award recognizes institutions with a transformative impact across various thematic categories, including teaching and learning, transition to employment, research and innovation, and entrepreneurship, or in priority sectors such as climate and the environment, agriculture and agri-food systems, health, and STEM, digital, and artificial intelligence. Over the next decade, the Award will recognize at least 150 institutions in Africa.
“Now is the time to rethink what higher education institutions can contribute as drivers of human capital development – not just as places of learning, but also as a direct pathway to employment, economic participation and a brighter future for young people across Africa” – Dr. John Nkengasong, Executive Director of Higher Education Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation
The winning institutions will be recognized at the Higher Education Transformation Convention to be held in Accra, Ghana, on September 22, 2026. To learn more about the AHEFT award, the first cohort, and eligibility requirements for future cycles, visit Africa Higher Education For | Mastercard Foundation (( https://apo-opa.co/4hnflcd ).
