CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA | November 18, 2025 — In a significant initiative aimed at promoting the positive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa, Cassava Technologies has partnered with The Rockefeller Foundation. This collaboration seeks to leverage AI’s transformative capabilities to empower various sectors on the continent. Previously, Cassava announced the establishment of Africa’s first AI factory, which will be fortified with NVIDIA AI infrastructure, providing essential compute capacity to several grantees of The Rockefeller Foundation operating in multiple countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
As Africa strives to claim a share of the projected US$1.2 trillion AI economy, this partnership is poised to enhance productivity and stimulate innovation within organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people across the region. Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, emphasized the potential of AI to drive economic development, particularly among the continent’s youth. “This requires investment in ensuring that AI developers across Africa have the resources and platforms to create solutions to Africa’s unique challenges,” he stated. He further added that the AI factory will facilitate the development of applications tailored to local datasets, languages, and models, fostering inclusive solutions.
Despite nearly one in five people globally residing in Africa, the continent currently possesses less than 1% of the world’s data center capacity. With the AI market in Africa estimated at approximately $5.17 billion, there is immense growth potential in the coming decade. Local access to computing resources is vital to realizing Africa’s AI ambitions.
Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, echoed these sentiments, stating, “AI can be transformative in the right hands, contributing to healthier communities, more productive farmers, and better education for children.” He underscored that the collaboration aims to empower African innovators with the necessary tools to shape their future.
Through this initiative, both Cassava and The Rockefeller Foundation aim to bolster African-led innovations in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. Notable organizations that will benefit from this collaboration include:
- Digital Green, operating in Ethiopia and Kenya, focuses on utilizing AI to provide smallholder farmers with localized, real-time agricultural advice. Rikin Gandhi, CEO of Digital Green, highlighted that their AI assistant, Farmer.Chat, delivers trusted guidance at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional methods. The newly available GPUs on the continent are expected to unlock advancements in various AI applications like speech-to-text and local language translation.
- Jacaranda Health, which aims to enhance maternal and child healthcare in Kenya, is set to deploy AI-powered tools to connect millions with essential care. Co-Executive Director Cynthia Kahumbura noted that access to advanced compute resources will enable them to develop culturally relevant, multilingual AI models, ultimately saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes.
- Rising Academies, actively improving educational outcomes for over 250,000 students across Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, has already witnessed the impact of AI in Rwandan classrooms. Fidele Hagenimana, Head of Rwanda Programs, remarked on the enhanced learning experiences driven by AI technologies like LearnLens, which significantly reduce teachers’ grading time.
This year, Cassava also introduced its GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), utilizing its secure data center facilities powered by NVIDIA AI infrastructure. The company is committed to expanding its infrastructure across various hubs in East, West, and North Africa, thereby reinforcing its dedication to responsible AI adoption and innovation in the region. Pemhiwa underscored that such partnerships are crucial for developing Africa’s AI ecosystem, ensuring that local talents are not merely consumers but active builders of AI technologies.
About Cassava Technologies
Cassava Technologies is a global technology leader of African heritage, providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure that fosters digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, Cassava operates across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States. The company, through its various business units, aims to establish itself as a premier global technology player of African descent.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropic organization focused on collaborative partnerships at the cutting edge of science, technology, and innovation. Committed to promoting human well-being and addressing global challenges, the foundation emphasizes the importance of empowering communities, particularly in sectors such as health, food security, and climate resilience.
Microsoft Launches Project Gecko to Deliver Customizable AI for Low-Resource Languages
AI’s Role in Climate Action Sparks Controversy at COP30 Talks in Brazil
Andrometa Launches YapWorld, Pioneering the “Social AI” Sector to Combat Digital Isolation
Microsoft Launches Foundry Overhaul with IQ Tools to Simplify AI Agent Management
McGill University Health Centre CEO Discusses AI Risks and Tech Adoption Strategies
