• Anthropic, Rwanda’s government, and ALX launched Chidi, an AI mentor built on Claude.

• It will reach over 200,000 learners across Africa. Rwanda is training 2,000 teachers and civil servants to use it in classrooms.

• By 2030, 70% of digital jobs will need basic skills, but only 9% of youth have them. Chidi helps bridge this gap with critical thinking and coding support.

Anthropic announced on November 18 a partnership with the Government of Rwanda and African tech training provider ALX to introduce Chidi, an AI learning companion built on Claude, to hundreds of thousands of learners across Africa.

Rwanda’s Ministries of ICT & Innovation and Education are integrating Chidi into the national education system, training up to 2,000 teachers and civil servants in AI classroom applications. Graduates will receive year-long access to Claude tools to enhance AI literacy in education and government. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation, said, “This collaboration enhances learning, supports educators, and builds a workforce ready for the 21st century.”

ALX will deploy Chidi across its programs, reaching over 200,000 students across the continent. The AI acts as a “Socratic mentor,” encouraging critical thinking through guided questions instead of direct answers. Early feedback shows high engagement, with learners tackling advanced coding and data science challenges.

The initiative builds on Anthropic’s global AI education efforts, including national pilots in Iceland, collaborations with the London School of Economics, and growing operations in India. The company aims to ensure AI expands opportunities and serves communities worldwide.

Africa faces a significant digital skills gap, with low technology adoption among firms, limiting productivity and hampering job creation, especially in areas that require higher-level skills. By 2030, 70% of digital skills demand is expected to be for basic-level capabilities, yet an OECD survey across 15 African countries shows only 9% of youth currently possess these essential skills. This mismatch between demand and preparedness underscores the importance of initiatives like Chidi, which aim to build foundational and advanced digital competencies across the continent.

Across the continent, similar AI and digital education initiatives are gaining traction. In Ghana, AI tools are being used in underserved neighborhoods, such as Accra’s Chorkor district, to teach digital literacy and spark interest in technology among youth. Kenya has also stepped forward with the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance (KAISA), launched by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in partnership with Microsoft, to coordinate AI skills development, innovation, and policy collaboration across key economic sectors.

Meanwhile, in Rwanda, another complementary initiative is addressing the foundational layer of digital inclusion. The Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), launched a program to expand digital skills training nationwide. The initiative provides free routers, Wi-Fi, and data to Digital Transformation Centres (DTCs) in underserved communities. These developments directly tackle one of Africa’s most pressing development challenges: the widening gap between digital access and digital competency.

Hikmatu Bilali