REFAC
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The Rwanda Education for All Coalition (REFAC), established in November 2013, is a dynamic umbrella organization uniting 23 local civil society organizations to advance quality, inclusive, and equitable basic education across Rwanda.
Registered as a Non-Governmental Organization under No. 383/RGB/NGO/OC/01/2018, REFAC champions free, high-quality education, focusing on early childhood education, special needs education, adult literacy, girls’ and women’s education, and technical and vocational education.
Since its inception, REFAC has been a dedicated advocate for quality, inclusive, and accessible education for every Rwandan. Our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan marks a crucial step in our journey to dismantle systemic barriers and drive transformative change in Rwanda’s education landscape. Anchored in Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), REFAC work towards connecting legacy of advocacy, research, and collaboration to create an equitable education system that empowers all citizens, particularly the most marginalized.
The Rwanda Education for All Coalition (REFAC) collaborates closely with government institutions (including the Ministry of Education and Rwanda Education Board), civil society organizations, and global partners such as African Network Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA), Global Campaign for Education (GCE), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Trocaire, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - United Kingdom (FCDO-UK) and GIZ. Through these strategic partnerships, REFAC drives evidence-based policy reforms, monitors implementation, and amplifies the voices of marginalized and underserved groups including children with disabilities, women and girls, rural communities, and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) to advance inclusive, equitable education for all.
Guided by core values of transparency, commitment, inclusiveness, credibility, confidence, and collaboration, REFAC fosters sustainable, accountable education systems that align with Rwanda’s national development priorities and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on quality education geared to collectively aim to ensure inclusive, equitable, and lifelong learning opportunities for all in Rwanda by 2030, with a specific focus on the following SD4 targets 4.1, 4.2 and 4.5.
Our Mission: To ensure effective, quality, and free education for all through the active participation of civil society organizations in Rwanda. This mission reflects our belief that civil society plays a crucial role in holding governments accountable and championing the rights of all citizens to a quality education, free from barriers.
Our Vision: A country where quality education is guaranteed for all citizens: Our vision is a Rwanda where every individual, regardless of their background, location, or ability, has access to and benefits from an education that empowers them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
Together, these efforts empower communities, hold stakeholders accountable, and contribute to a Rwanda where quality, inclusive education is a reality for all.
REFAC’s governance structure, established in its Organizational Charter, promotes accountability, transparency, and effective management in its engagement with donors, government institutions, and other stakeholders. The coalition enforces a comprehensive conflict-of-interest policy requiring staff, board members, and affiliated representatives to formally disclose any potential conflicts. These disclosures are reviewed by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to safeguard institutional integrity and ensure adherence to ethical and operational standards. This governance framework strengthens credibility and reinforces confidence among partners and supporters. Key organs include:
Comprises all 23 member organizations
Serves as the supreme decision-making body; sets strategic priorities; approves action plans, budgets, and reports; oversees membership decisions and overall direction of the organization.
President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Treasurer, and two Advisors
Provides periodic management oversight; negotiates partnerships; conducts annual policy reviews to ensure compliance with legal and operational standards; guides strategic implementation between General Assembly meetings.
Committee appointed in line with organizational statutes
Conducts quarterly financial audits; ensures access to accounting records; verifies adherence to statutes and financial procedures; reports findings to the General Assembly to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability.
Committee designated by the organization
Addresses and resolves disputes among members or governing organs; ensures fairness, impartiality, and adherence to the organization’s statutes and ethical standards.
National Coordinator, Finance and Administration Manager, Program Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and District Coordinators
Responsible for day-to-day management; coordinates partnerships; oversees project implementation; ensures operational planning, monitoring, and reporting across programs and districts.
REFAC adopts a participatory, evidence-based approach to advocacy, emphasizing civic engagement and inclusion of marginalized voices. Our strategies include:
• Collaborative Partnerships: Working with the Government Ministries and Institutions such as Ministry of Education and Rwanda Education Board, Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP), and international partners e.g. Trocaire, FCDO-UK, GIZ etc. to influence education policies.
• Community-Driven Advocacy: Engaging stakeholders at grassroots, district and national levels to identify barriers to education access and develop inclusive solutions.
• Inclusion of Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups: Prioritizing women, children with disabilities, and rural communities to ensure equitable representation in policy and practice.
• Evidence-Based Advocacy: Conducting research, monitoring, and evaluation to inform policy reforms and drive systemic change.
• Rapid Feedback Mechanisms: Utilizing agile learning cycles and community feedback to adapt interventions, ensuring responsiveness to local needs.
Our approach is rooted in a Theory of Change that links targeted interventions (policy advocacy with MINEDUC and JRES, research on barriers, capacity building for teachers and members, challenges, gaps, opportunities and readiness for decentralizing teachers’ recruitment and transfer functions in Rwanda ; partnership strengthening, and awareness campaigns) to five intermediary outcomes: adoption of inclusive policies, increased access and retention for marginalized groups, enhanced teacher capacity in inclusive pedagogy, stronger stakeholder collaboration and resource allocation, and evidence-based research informing policy and practice.