Addis Ababa University Wins $3 Million Africa Higher Education Prize
Addis Ababa University has been named an inaugural Africa Higher Education for Transformation Prize winner and is set to receive $3 million to expand research and innovation work.
In short
- Addis Ababa University has been named an inaugural Africa Higher Education for Transformation Prize winner and is set to receive $3 million to expand research and innovation work.
Addis Ababa University has been selected as one of five inaugural winners of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation Prize, securing $3 million to expand work linking research, public services and opportunities for young people.
The university was recognized in the Excellence in Research and Innovation category. The award organizers highlighted AAU’s alignment of research with Ethiopia’s economic priorities and its connection with Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, which supports clinical training, research and community care.
The Reporter Ethiopia said the hospital serves about 884,000 patients annually. The prize is backed by a $500 million, 10-year commitment from the Mastercard Foundation.
Four other institutions were named in the first group of winners: Burkina Faso’s International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Uganda’s Muni University and the University of Rwanda.
The five institutions are scheduled to receive their awards at the Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra, Ghana, on September 22, 2026. Organizers aim to recognize and fund at least 150 African higher-education institutions over the next decade.
