ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains and the Gates Foundation 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 nations 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 worlds 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 childs education and to supporting more growth across the region.
