Applications are open for the Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) 2026 Call for Submissions, an initiative by the African Union supporting scalable and impactful innovations transforming education and skills development across the continent.
Launched to address persistent challenges in access, quality, relevance, and employability, the IEA initiative identifies and supports solutions that can be integrated into public education systems and scaled across African countries.
Since its inception, the programme has engaged over 1,500 stakeholders and promoted more than 180 innovations, mobilising up to $1 million to support education transformation.
Programme Focus
The 2026 call expands its scope to support innovations across:
- Basic and secondary education
- Higher education and research ecosystems
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- Digital education systems
- Green skills development
- Artificial intelligence and robotics in education
Thematic Areas
Applicants are encouraged to submit innovations in areas such as:
Basic and Secondary Education
- Foundational literacy and numeracy tools
- Teacher training innovations
- AI-enabled learning and assessment systems
- Inclusive and gender-responsive education technologies
Higher Education & Innovation Ecosystems
- University-industry innovation hubs
- Research commercialisation platforms
- Digital and hybrid learning systems
- STEM and robotics centres
TVET and Skills Development
- Digital and AI-integrated training models
- Green and climate-responsive skills
- Industry-led apprenticeship systems
- Skills certification and mobility frameworks
AI and Emerging Technologies
- AI-powered education tools
- Robotics labs and simulation systems
- AI ethics and governance in education
- Youth innovation hubs
Programme Benefits
Selected innovators will receive:
- Grants of up to $50,000
- Recognition from the African Union
- Promotion to governments and development partners
- Participation in the IEA Expo and policy dialogues
- Inclusion in continental innovation publications
- Capacity-building support and policy engagement opportunities
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of an African Union Member State
- Lead a legally registered organisation
- Be implementing an existing education innovation with proven results
- Demonstrate potential for scalability and integration into public systems
Institutions such as universities, research centres, and innovation hubs are encouraged to apply.
