REFAC
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Rwanda Education for All Coalition (REFAC) is a national coalition established in November 2013 as a platform for civil society organizations, professional groupings, education and research institutions, and practitioners promoting quality basic education for all.
Rwanda Education for All Coalition (REFAC) is a National coalition established in November 2013 as a national platform which intends to bring together civil society organizations, professional groupings, education and research institutions and other practitioners interested in promoting quality basic education for all.
REFAC works as a national umbrella of civil society organizations dedicated to promoting quality, equity, inclusive, and accessible basic education. The coalition strengthens participation, advocacy, research, monitoring, and accountability so that education systems respond to the rights and needs of all citizens.
Through partnership with members, communities, public institutions, and education stakeholders, REFAC highlights barriers to quality basic education and advocates for appropriate allocation and utilization of public and private resources.
Ensure effective quality and free education for all through the participation of civil society in Rwanda.
A country where quality education is guaranteed for all citizens.
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.