Abu Dhabi's ADQ Partners With Gates Foundation To Boost Learning In Africa

Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, ADQ, and the Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations, have announced a four-year, US$40 million partnership to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and edtech solutions aimed at improving learning outcomes for children across sub-Saharan Africa. 

The announcement was made at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, when Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, visited the UAE.  

The partnership will channel funding through two flagship programs designed to address the persistent underfunding and limited reach of proven educational technologies in sub-Saharan Africa. Microsoft's AI for education initiative, launched globally in 2022, develops practical AI-enabled learning models and provides expert guidance to governments in the Global South. Meanwhile, the newly created EdTech and AI Fund—set to launch next year—will become the first investment vehicle dedicated to scaling interventions with demonstrated impact on foundational learning at the national level. 

ADQ will contribute up to $20 million to the initiative, which targets a critical educational challenge: nine in ten children in the region are currently unable to read or do basic math by age 10. 

In a statement, HE Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, said, "As part of the UAE's commitment to advancing AI and technology-enabled solutions, this partnership underscores ADQ's dedication to delivering meaningful impact for current and future generations across global markets. As a responsible investor, we have focused on enabling the infrastructure that supports socio-economic development and creating pathways for inclusive growth. While that has traditionally meant physical assets, the systems that support learning, data, and intelligent technologies are becoming equally important to national development. By combining our investment capabilities with the expertise of leading institutions, we aim to strengthen education systems, widen access to opportunity, and equip millions of young people across the African continent with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world." 

Bill Gates added, "AI has enormous potential to transform learning and expand opportunity. This partnership brings together the expertise needed to apply these tools responsibly and scale approaches already showing results. The UAE has shown leadership in using innovation to expand opportunity, and together we'll build on that momentum to help children develop the foundational skills that shape their futures." 

The partnership builds on the Gates Foundation's $240 million expansion of its Global Education Program announced earlier this year, a four-year effort targeting 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa and India. The initiative aligns with commitments made at the 2025 African Union Summit to end learning poverty by 2035.