Accra: The Mastercard Foundation today announced the launch of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize, a first-of-its-kind annual award, supported by a USD 500 million commitment over its first decade. The AHEFT Prize recognizes higher education institutions in Africa that are driving sustained, systemic institution-wide transformation and expanding opportunities for young people.According to African Press Organization, the inaugural winning institutions are 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 (Rwanda). Each recipient will receive USD 3 million to scale transformative work, through initiatives agreed with each institution to advance education opportunities for young people in Africa."For twenty years we have seen African institutions rethink what higher education can deliver. The AHEFT Pri ze turns that proof into momentum: we are backing homegrown excellence with a decade-long commitment, so that universities across the continent become engines of opportunity for millions of young people," said Sewit Ahderom, President and CEO, Mastercard Foundation.Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia was recognized for its ability to align research with national priorities, strengthen workforce development, and connect scientific knowledge directly to economic opportunity, public services, and community wellbeing. Its integration with Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital enables large-scale clinical training, research, and service delivery.The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering in Burkina Faso received recognition for innovation in practice-based engineering and technical education. It has trained more than 13,000 graduates, with a significant percentage securing employment shortly after graduation and contributing to sectors including water, climate, energy, and infrastructure.K wame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana was honored for its research-to-innovation ecosystem, translating research into startups, industry solutions, and public impact through platforms like the Kumasi Business Incubator and Innovation Centre.Muni University in Uganda was recognized for creating pathways from education to employment for refugees and underserved youth through its Refugee and Host Community Youth Empowerment and Transformation Initiative, which has enabled a high employment rate among its participants.The University of Rwanda was commended for its role in strengthening the country's health system and workforce, training thousands of health professionals and evolving into a regional leader in digital health and health systems innovation.The AHEFT Prize aims to recognize institutions delivering transformational impact in thematic categories such as Teaching and Learning and sectors including Health and STEM. Over the next decade, it will recognize and award at least 150 i nstitutions in Africa."This is the moment to reimagine what higher education institutions can do as engines of human capital development," said Dr. John Nkengasong, Executive Director, Higher Education Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation.The winning institutions will be awarded at the Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra, Ghana, on September 22, 2026. More information can be found at Africa Higher Education For | Mastercard Foundation .