Ethiopia seeks private money for AI and digital skills

Birr Metrics and ENA English both reported on 19 October 2026 (Tikimt 9, 2019 E.C.) that Eyob Tekalign, governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, outlined the government's approach at the Human Capital Ministerial Conclave on Private Capital for Skills. The conclave is convened by the World Bank Group's Human Capital Project.

ENA reported that Ethiopia wants to expand AI and digital skills, strengthen job-oriented training and mobilise private investment in human capital. Birr Metrics reported that the government is expanding technology-based training and bringing AI-supported learning into schools and vocational institutions. The governor named these government initiatives:

• National AI Policy
• Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute
• Digital Ethiopia 2030
• Five Million Coders initiative
• Medemer AI University

Both reports also describe pilot programmes that put AI Coach and AI Tutor tools into secondary schools, and a platform that Ethiopia is developing with the World Bank. The platform is an AI-enabled, gender-responsive skills-for-jobs system for technical and vocational education and training institutions, meant to connect training with work for young people from refugee and host communities.

Secondary school pupils in the pilot programmes, students and staff at technical and vocational institutions, and young people from refugee and host communities are the people the platform is meant to reach. According to the governor, employers and training providers should share responsibility for skills development.

Neither report names the schools, colleges or regions taking part in the pilots, and neither says how many learners would be involved.

The reports give no fee, registration process or documents for any of these programmes, and no amount of private financing has been announced.

• An announcement naming the pilot schools and the start date for the AI Coach and AI Tutor tools.
• The timetable and partners for the skills-for-jobs platform, which neither report gives.
• Official statements from the National Bank of Ethiopia or the government on the financing terms.

Digital Ethiopia 2030 provides the broader policy framework for the government's digital priorities. Birr Metrics reports that the Five Million Coders initiative has already been launched to expand access to digital skills training.

Ethiopia has taken part in the conclave since it was established, and the World Bank's Human Capital Project promotes investment in education, health and workforce skills as parts of economic development.