The Mwanga wa Elimu Manifesto
- Light of Education -

A Personal Commitment to Drive Africa’s EdTech Transformation

Africa stands at a crossroads in its educational journey. Despite decades of investment and innovation, our continent’s educational potential remains constrained by a fragmented digital landscape, isolated projects with unsustainable commercial models, and disconnected digital solutions that have kept a unified, scalable solution out of reach. While billions of dollars have been invested in these isolated, unscalable pilots, hundreds of millions of African children and young people are still denied the foundational skills, digital competencies, and opportunities they need to thrive in the 21st century. Together, we can, and we must solve this problem – now.

A Vision has been set, charting a path for EdTech apps to move beyond pilots. For a new, continent-wide EdTech Ecosystem to be built, it can be done, it is a Continental EdTech vision, we own the EdTech Vision, and we must do it!

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has outlined an ambitious ‘Africa EdTech 2030 Vision and Plan’.

By 2030, every African learner will have equitable access to world-class, localised digital learning content on affordable, reliable devices, supported by an interoperable pan African EdTech Ecosystem. The EdTech standards include mobile first, offline first with intermittent connectivity, and open access.

The Vision frames the imperative for these apps to be built in Africa, for Africa, scaled and strengthened by a Digital Public Infrastructure for Education (DPI-Ed).

This Manifesto declares that the Vision is achievable and will be achieved. It establishes a mechanism to drive collective action and deliver equitable access by 2030. Together, a coalition of committed African policymakers, teachers, developers, investors, advocates, and learners can break through the barriers that have held us back for decades.

By building a unified ecosystem founded on common principles, shared best practices, and common standards, we can secure the future of education for our children and free their minds to learn. By building an EdTech ecosystem around Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Education, we can strengthen Africa’s leadership in the global race to establish the global EdTech ecosystem of the future and build an EdTech export industry here in Africa

The opportunity is clear. The human cost of inaction will be catastrophic. The time is now.

Our collective commitment is a collective pledge

We collectively commit to driving the digital transformation of African education in accordance with the Africa EdTech 2030 Vision, via its Digital Public Infrastructure for Education (DPI-Ed). We will build, champion, and operate within a single, unified Edtech Ecosystem, based on Africa’s DPI-Ed, guided by this Manifesto, and aligned with the Vision.

As Policymakers and Public Sector partners,  we commit to:

• Champion the EdTech Vision: Formally adopt and promote the Vision’s principles and associated Policy Framework as the official policy standard for digital education in Africa.

• Enable the ecosystem: Create an enabling regulatory and policy environment aligned with the Vision, its Policy Framework, and its standards-based, vendor-neutral DPI-Ed, ensuring any subsequent or amended legislation is drafted harmoniously.

• Guarantee openness: Serve as the Vision Carrier and custodians of Africa’s EdTech Vision & Plan, ensuring it remains a free and open resource for all.

As Investors and Funders, we commit to:

• Align investments: When funding or using any EdTech in Africa, ensure that it is aligned to the Africa EdTech Vision and Plan.

• Support the infrastructure: Provide catalytic funding and technical expertise to support the development, maintenance, spread, and domestication of Africa’s Vision & Plan.

• Foster sustainable models: Invest in business models that make EdTech Apps aligned to the Africa EdTech Vision & Policy Framework and are both free for learners and commercially viable for developers.

As Developers, we commit to:

• Build for the ecosystem: Make our EdTech apps aligned to the Africa EdTech Vision & Plan, Policy Framework, and DPI-Ed-Compatible.

• Collaborate with teachers and learning experts: Leverage the Africa EdTech Vision & Plan, Policy Framework, and the DPI-Ed-sourced data to inform engagement with teachers and learning experts to accelerate the improvement of DPI-Ed-Compatible apps.

• Leverage sustainable models: Actively participate in Africa’s EdTech Ecosystem via its DPI-Ed, and use the Ecosystem’s sustainable revenue model to grow our impact and contribute to a vibrant continental market.

As Teachers and Learners, we commit to:

• Champion adoption: Lead the way in using Africa EdTech Vision & Plan, Policy Framework via DPI-Ed-Compatible apps to enhance teaching and learning experiences in our classrooms and communities.

• Provide feedback: Offer constructive, real-world feedback to developers and policymakers to ensure that Africa’s EdTech Ecosystem is continuously improved for teachers and learners.

• Embrace lifelong learning: Engage in professional development and communities of practice to build our digital skills and prepare ourselves for the future.

• Participate in content creation: Contribute to content creation and review to ensure context and cultural relevance.

I declare that I have familiarised myself with the AUDA-NEPAD 2030 Vision and the Mwanga wa Elimu Manifesto. I personally commit to:

• Become a Luminary:

  Affirming my understanding of the Africa EdTech 2030 Vision by completing a short online questionnaire and sharing my endorsement of this Manifesto with the wider EdTech community.

• Be an advocate:

  Actively and publicly champion this Manifesto and the Vision within my own community and professional network.

• Contribute my skills and resources:

  Lend my expertise and resources to support the movement’s goals where I am best able.

• Uphold the principles:

  Act with the integrity and passion of a true leader in Africa’s educational transformation.

I am a committed Luminary in the Mwanga wa Elimu movement.