The education system of Rwanda is marked by inequalities, especially between urban and rural children, across gender, and due to poverty. CSOs have limited capacity to monitor and influence education sector policies and programmes, mainstream gender, disability, and social inclusion into their programmes and interventions, and generate evidence and documentation. 

To tackle these issues, the project led by Rwanda Education for All Coalition (REFAC) will engage in capacity building of coalition members and education stakeholders, so they meaningfully can engage and participate in education matters and ensure the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups. Further, CSOs shall ensure meaningful accountability through advocacy, awareness raising campaigns, and effective participation. This entails CSOs participating in Joint Reviews of Education Sectors and national budgets to make sure every child has access to quality education regardless of gender or disabilities. 

The project also aims to support REFAC and other CSOS in generating and managing evidence. With this evidence, the coalition can effectively participate in and influence education planning processes, so they become more inclusive and gender responsive. Besides advocating for more effective education policies with the government, REFAC will encourage citizens to participate in advocacy activities and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, so their voices are heard. 

The project will continue the work of the previous project phase, implemented between April 2022 – December 2023. The project has already been successful in engaging with policy makers and parliamentarians, as well as in having civil society participating in policy dialogues within the education sector. During this period, the project will use adapted and improved approaches to promote inclusive and gender responsive education through multi-stakeholder dialogue. 

By the end of this phase, the project is expected to contribute to: 

• Improved civil society engagement for inclusive and gender responsive education planning, policy development, and monitoring processes. 

• Several vulnerable groups serve on Education Sector Working Groups, which review and monitor government projects.  

• Women and youth will to a larger extent be included and engaged in the coalition, as well as being able to implement sustained advocacy plans. 

• Learning opportunities are enhanced through district, national, and regional forums. The learning will cover gender equality, human rights, and adaptive management. 

The project aims to reach 40 NGOs (23 REFAC members and ten influential stakeholders), ten community-based organisations, ten parents and teacher committees, Sector Education Officers, District Directors of Education in five districts, and 15 media practitioners. 

A previous phase of the project was carried out between April 2022 – December 2023. The current project is part of the EOL extension phase of 2024-2026. Read more about the previous phase of the project here.