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Ed Tech Idea Call in Response to COVID-19

The mEducation Alliance, along with the EdTech Hub and the Global Innovation Exchange (GIE), launched a call for ideas to respond to the learning emergency caused by COVID-19 school closures in low- and middle-income countries. Successful initiatives will be invited to an EdTech Pitch Days with a global network of potential funders, support in adapting and scaling in response to COVID-19, and connections for onward collaboration.

Acceleration Window for COVID-19 Refugee Ed Tech Ideas (deadline June 22nd)

UNHCR is teaming up with the EdTech Hub, mEducation Alliance, Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) and ECW to open a specific Refugee Sub-window to their EdTech call – in order to respond to the learning emergency caused by COVID-19 school closures.  Selected applicants will be invited to a dedicated Pitch Day focused on refugees, allowing teams to compete for the opportunity to join the Humanitarian Education Accelerator’s (HEA) Rapid Response COVID-19 Cohort.

Please find more info about this competition window here. If you have already submitted an application to the general EdTech call, please do indicate your interest in being considered for the Refugee Sub-Window here.

How to apply 

Submit your idea by filling in this simple application form. The deadline for applications is 12noon GMT on 22nd June.

Background to the COVID-19 Ed Tech Call:

What we are looking for:

*Initiatives with proof of impact currently working within or outside the education sector, which could be pivoted or quickly scaled to respond to educational challenges related to COVID-19;

*What if’ ideas with potential to be rapidly tested and implemented in areas of greatest need; and,

*Ideas that incorporate as much as possible the principles of Universal Design for Learning.

All eligible applicants will be added to GIE’s COVID-19 Innovation Hub, with selected innovations receiving verified recognition and support from the EdTech Hub and mEducation Alliance for exposure to their networks. Successful applications will receive a combination of the following, dependent on their need and maturity:

  1. Invitation to pitch to funders at COVID-19 EdTech Pitch Days, giving you exposure to a global network of education donors and investors.
  2. Connections to world leading experts for how best to adapt and scale your idea for COVID.
  3. Direct links into programmes and matchmaking to others who are working in this space for onward collaboration.

Applications Are Now Closed For the Main Competition (see info above on a Refugee-focused sub-window): We received closed to 400 submissions through this call and are selecting those for inclusion in a variety of pitch events over the coming weeks. We will notify successful applicants in the coming weeks.

For more information about the idea call, please visit the EdTech Hub website.

Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

Michael Leventhal

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning scienceMichael Leventhal is co-founder of RobotsMali, a pedagogical and AI4D laboratory and STEM education center in Bamako, Mali. RobotsMali has trained thousands of students from elementary school to high school in computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, coached national robotics teams that have won 32 medals in international competitions, and developed technologies using AI and robotics for the social and economic development of Mali. Before becoming an educator in Mali, Michael worked as a technologist in Silicon Valley.s, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.

Enouce Ndeche

Enouce Ndeche is the founder and Director of Vijana Amani Pamoja ,VAP a community scheme based in Nairobi Kenya that uses the power and the popularity of the game of soccer/football as a catalyst for social, educational and economic empowerment.Enouce holds a degree in sociology from Egerton university and he is also the 2020 individual award recipient “Diversity and Inclusion Eminent Leader Award Enouce is also a certified Sports Philanthropy and Executive, George Washington University and is a 2023 Gratitude Network fellow.

Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.