Global Gateway is the European Union’s flagship investment strategy to strengthen sustainable and trusted partnerships worldwide, with a strong focus on digital transformation and human development. In Africa, Global Gateway supports a comprehensive approach that combines connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and education systems to enable inclusive and resilient societies.
Education and digital skills are central to this vision. As African countries navigate rapid technological change, the ability to equip learners, teachers, and workers with relevant digital competences is critical—not only for employability, but also for sovereignty, agency, and participation in the digital economy.
Through a Team Europe approach, Global Gateway promotes integrated investments that link digital infrastructure with skills development, innovation ecosystems, and private sector engagement. This ensures that digital transformation translates into tangible opportunities—particularly for women, youth, and underserved communities—while addressing structural challenges such as the gender digital divide and unequal access to education and technology.
Working together for impact
The Digital for Development Hub contributes to Global Gateway by strengthening coordination among European and African partners, fostering policy dialogue, and supporting multi-stakeholder collaboration on digital transformation. In the field of digital skills and education, it plays a key role in connecting public and private actors, sharing knowledge, and promoting a human-centric and rights-based approach.
The Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA) is a partnership between the European Union, EU member states (France, Belgium, Estonia and Finland), UNESCO, and the African Union Commission, designed to tackle the critical shortage of qualified teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa. By integrating digital approaches into teaching, learning, research, and institutional development, RTIA aims to strengthen the quality and reach of education initiatives across the African continent.
Meet us at eLearning Africa 2026
At eLearning Africa 2026 in Accra, Team Europe will showcase its engagement under Global Gateway through the presence of both the D4D Hub and RTIA.
A joint stand will provide a space for dialogue and networking, highlighting European and African cooperation on digital education, skills development, and innovation. Come find us at the exhibition area!
As part of the programme, D4D Hub and RTIA will organise two panels:
A D4D Hub-organized high-level panel discussion on The Talent–Tech Connection: Boosting African Talents to Bridge the Global Digital Skills Gap, placed on Thursday from 14:30-15:30, exploring how to better link skills development with digital infrastructure investments and private sector engagement.
A side-event hosted by the RTIA on “Partnering for Better Teaching: The RTIA Approach in Sub-Saharan Africa”, placed on Thursday 4 from 11:45 – 12:45. This panel discussion will bring together RTIA partners from the initiative’s different funding windows to showcase their ongoing projects, share field experiences, and discuss innovative approaches to strengthening teaching and learning through digitalisation. The session will also provide a broader reflection on the key opportunities and challenges linked to the digitalisation of education, fostering dialogue among practitioners, policymakers, and international stakeholders.
We invite all participants to visit the joint stand, engage with our partners, and join our discussions, helping shape the future of digital education and skills in Africa.
