Camera Education Ethiopia will support the rollout of 115 AI-powered digital learning hubs across Ethiopia.

Irish non-profit Camera Education has secured more than €2.5m from Unicef to expand its AI-powered digital education across Ethiopia.

The funds will support the organisation through till 2027 to provide children its “large-scale” digital and transferable skills programme.

The initiative intends to expand access to digital education for “thousands” of students and teachers, particularly in refugee-hosting, displacement-affected and underserved communities, the non-profit said. Focus will be provided for young girls and learners with disabilities, Camera Education said.

Many of the schools supported through Camera Education’s programme have limited or inconsistent internet access, making offline digital learning important for ensuring continuity of learning.

Partnering with Unicef will allow Camera Education Ethiopia to support the rollout of 115 AI-powered digital learning hubs in schools and institutions, alongside managed internet connectivity and offline-first learning environments designed for low-resource settings.

The funds will enable the disbursement of 1,166 desktop computers, 826 tablets and 200 laptops, embedded with curriculum-aligned digital content and the Camara AI education assistant.

The programme intends to deliver digital skills, AI and technology training to more than 1,500 teachers and school leaders.

Around 7,000 students are also expected to be trained in essential digital and transferable skills. Learners will have access to structured progression pathways, including coding bootcamps, mentorship and job-readiness support, Camera Education said.

“This landmark partnership demonstrates the growing importance of digital skills, AI literacy, and equitable access to technology in shaping the future of education,” said Ibolya Nemeth, the CEO of Camara Education.

“Together with Unicef and our partners, we are investing in practical, scalable solutions that empower young people and teachers with the tools, confidence and opportunities needed to thrive in a digital economy.

“We are proud that an Irish-founded organisation continues to play a meaningful role in advancing education and opportunity across Africa.”

The 2005-founded non-profit works across Africa, including in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, providing learning solutions to underserved schools in the region.

Its initiative with Unicef, called ‘Digital and Transferable Skills Development: Transforming In-School Learning and Transition to Earning’, is delivered with support from the Netherlands, Mastercard Foundation and the Global Partnership for Education.

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A school student in Ethiopia. Image: Unicef Ethiopia via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)