The Mastercard Foundation has launched the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize, a new annual award aimed at recognising African universities that are transforming higher education and improving employment opportunities for young people.
The Foundation has committed $500 million (about Shs1.8 trillion) over the next 10 years to support the initiative, making it one of the largest investments focused on strengthening higher education institutions in Africa.
Five universities were named the inaugural winners of the 2026 AHEFT Prize. They include Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (Burkina Faso), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Muni University (Uganda), and the University of Rwanda.
Each institution will receive $3 million (about Shs10.8 billion) to expand programmes aimed at improving access to education, research, innovation and employment pathways for young people.
Speaking at the launch, Mastercard Foundation President and CEO Sewit Ahderom said the award recognises African universities that are demonstrating the role of higher education in driving social and economic transformation.
"For the past two decades, we have witnessed African universities redefine what higher education can achieve. Through the AHEFT Prize, we are investing in homegrown excellence so that universities can create greater opportunities for millions of young people across the continent," Ahderom said.
Uganda’s Muni University was recognised under the Transitions to Employment category for its efforts in preparing graduates, particularly refugees and vulnerable youth, for the labour market.
The university’s Refugee and Host Community Youth Empowerment and Transformation Initiative (RETI) has enabled nearly 70 percent of participants to secure employment within three months of completing the programme, positioning it as one of Africa’s notable models for linking education to employment.
Addis Ababa University received the award for excellence in research and innovation, particularly for aligning scientific research with national development priorities and supporting healthcare delivery through its partnership with Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital.
The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) in Burkina Faso was recognised for excellence in teaching and learning after producing engineering graduates with high employment rates.
More than 70 percent of its graduates secure jobs within one year, while over 95 percent remain employed in Africa.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana was honoured for converting research into business opportunities through startup incubation and technology commercialisation.
The University of Rwanda received recognition for excellence in health after training more than 26,000 health professionals and strengthening healthcare delivery through community-based training and innovation.
The AHEFT Prize recognises universities contributing to teaching and learning, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, employment creation, healthcare, climate resilience, agriculture, science, technology and artificial intelligence.
The Mastercard Foundation plans to recognise at least 150 African higher education institutions over the next decade through the programme.
Dr John Nkengasong, executive director for Higher Education Initiatives at the Mastercard Foundation, said universities must move beyond awarding academic qualifications and become engines of economic transformation.
"Higher education must become more than a place of learning. Universities should equip young people with the skills, opportunities and innovations that lead directly to employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development across Africa," Nkengasong said.
The inaugural winners will officially receive their awards during the Higher Education Transformation Convening scheduled for September 22, 2026, in Accra, Ghana.
