Grants of up to $160,000 for Local EdTech Research on Foundational Learning in Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal

Update: Please note that the application period has now closed. Stay tuned for next steps.

Grants Overview

Deadline: Monday, 2nd March 2026, 9.00am GMT

Grant amount: Up to $160,000

Eligible countries: Kenya, Malawi, Senegal

Are you an education research organisation based in Kenya, Malawi, or Senegal, working in EdTech and focusing on Foundational Learning (FL)? Applications are now open for grants of up to $160,000 to strengthen the capacity of local Ministries of Education (MoEs) to coordinate and lead evidence-informed EdTech research that supports improvements in FL outcomes.  

These grants are part of the African EdTech Initiative (AEI) – a three-year research programme funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and implemented by EdTech Hub, Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).    

Overview of the project

The goal of the project is to strengthen the coordinating capacity of African MoEs to establish and deliver on clear EdTech research agendas. The initiative is guided by the research question, “How can governments in sub-Saharan Africa coordinate EdTech research to enable them to use EdTech in strategic, effective and cost-efficient ways to improve Foundational Learning outcomes for all learners?” The initiative aims to generate context-specific EdTech research to inform the national-level development and implementation of EdTech policies and plans focusing on FL, by working in close partnership with local education research organisations. Through this call, ESSA and partners are seeking locally based research organisations in Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal to co-lead country-level action research in collaboration with Ministries. Selected organisations will work with Ministries to identify priority research questions, co-design and implement EdTech research projects, and support the integration of findings into national policy processes.  

What the grants will fund:

These grants will fund research, coordination with the Ministry, policy engagement, and dissemination over approximately 18 months.  

Number of grants:

One grant will be awarded per country to a research organisation working in EdTech, with a focus on FL. Each grant will be valued at up to $160,000.   

Eligibility criteria:

Applicants for these grants must meet the following criteria:  

• Applicants must be a legally registered entity (e.g., university, research institute, NGO, private research firm, or think tank) and must be operational in at least one of the focus African countries (Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal), with demonstrated capacity and experience working with government agencies such as the Ministry of Education.   

• Demonstrated experience in educational research, development, or implementation, especially in EdTech, focused on FL.   

• Availability of qualified staff with expertise in education, EdTech, pedagogy, research methods and FL. Institutional capacity for conducting robust, ethical, and policy-relevant research.  

• The organisation publicly demonstrates a commitment to gender inclusivity and diversity through its team composition, research focus, or organisational policies. This may include gender-responsive approaches in EdTech or FL solutions, equitable participation of women and marginalised groups in leadership and research roles, and the inclusion of gender-disaggregated data in past reports or publications.   

• Demonstrated experience working with MoE, other relevant ministries or public sector stakeholders in Africa. Additionally, the organisation should also demonstrate an understanding of national education systems, curricula, and policymaking processes related to EdTech and FL.  

Call for Proposals       Frequently Asked Questions

Application form

Apply now to help shape evidence-informed EdTech policy for FL in your country.