Institute for African Compact on Education
Education as a lever for Africa’s transformation
The Institute carries forward, in an African style, the Global Compact on Education launched by Pope Francis: research rooted in local knowledge, training of trainers and accompaniment of educators.
Our conviction
The Institute brings together bishops, Catholic universities, researchers, teachers and actors in the field around a single conviction: it is through education that Africa is durably transformed.
“You have expressed the Global Compact on Education in an African style, the Compact I launched in September 2019.”
Pope Francis
To the delegation of the actors of the African Compact on Education, Rome, 1 June 2023
The Institute
An institution born of the African journey for education
Created in 2024 in line with the recommendations of the First African Congress on Catholic Education (Abidjan, 2023), the Institute for African Compact on Education was launched in Kigali on 9 December 2024. It continues a journey begun in Butare in 2017, bringing together bishops, Catholic universities, researchers and actors in the field around the African Compact on Education.
About the InstituteA continental movement
- 10
- major steps since Butare, 2017
- 10
- countries engaged in the dynamic
- 0
- African congresses on Catholic education
At the heart of our identity
African Compact on Education
The African Compact on Education is the African expression of the Global Compact on Education launched by Pope Francis in 2019: an educational alliance rooted in the cultures, languages and educational traditions of the continent.
From the Global Compact to the African Compact
Global Compact on Education
Launched by Pope Francis in September 2019.
African Compact on Education
Presented in Kinshasa on 6 November 2022.
What we do
The Institute’s missions
Research rooted in local knowledge
“This is not generic research uprooted from its own culture, but research firmly centred on the traditional educational values in which Africa is rich.”
The training of trainers
Training trainers in these local forms of knowledge and in inculturated Christian values, the condition for their effective transmission in the field.
Accompanying educators
Not leaving educators on their own, but accompanying them in carrying out their mission.
The African journey
Steps towards the African Compact on Education
2017
Butare, Rwanda
Education recognised as a lever of transformation
At the initiative of His Excellency Bishop Philippe Rukamba, then Bishop of Butare, pastors, researchers and actors in the field gathered to reflect on the mission of the Church amid social, political, economic and environmental crises. A shared conviction emerged: education is one of the most effective instruments for lasting transformation of African societies.
2018
Butare, Rwanda
New momentum and the support of the Holy See
A further meeting deepened reflection on the challenges facing Catholic schools in Africa, with the participation of His Excellency Archbishop Vincenzo Angelo Zani, then Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education. In this perspective the International Foundation Religions and Societies was created on 8 July 2018; its General Assembly appointed Professor Jean-Paul Niyigena to coordinate its work in Catholic education.
2019
Kigali, Rwanda
Peace and the environment at the heart of priorities
The Kigali symposium, held in collaboration with the Congregation for Catholic Education, focused on education for peace and the environment. A cooperation framework agreement was signed between several African Catholic universities covering research, training and educational innovation, under the patronage of Archbishop Vincenzo Angelo Zani and many bishops (ACEAC, ACERAC, ACERAO).
2021
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Reflection on educational methods
Hosted by His Excellency Archbishop Jean Mbarga at the Catholic University of Central Africa, the symposium gathered three cardinals — Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo and Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga — together with many bishops, researchers and field actors. Discussions addressed pedagogical methods serving peace, fraternity, justice and care for the environment.
2022
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Drafting and presentation of the African Compact on Education
The international symposium at the Catholic University of Congo drew up the Compact’s main orientations, solemnly presented to the People of God on 6 November 2022 under the high patronage of His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo. Four new countries joined the process: Mozambique, Tanzania, Angola and Nigeria.
2023
Rome, Holy See
The Compact presented to Pope Francis
On 1 June 2023, receiving the delegation of the actors of the African Compact on Education, Pope Francis said: “You have expressed the Global Compact on Education in an African style, the Compact I launched in September 2019.”
2023
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
First African Congress on Catholic Education
Jointly organised by the International Foundation Religions and Societies and SECAM at the Catholic University of West Africa, 7–10 December 2023, on the theme of presenting the African Compact on Education in the spirit of Pope Francis. Its recommendations led to the creation of the Institute.
2024
Kigali, Rwanda
Creation and launch of the Institute for African Compact on Education
The Institute was created in 2024 in line with the recommendations of the First African Congress on Catholic Education. On 9 December 2024 its launch ceremony received the message of His Eminence José Tolentino Cardinal de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education (Vatican City, 2 December 2024). A needs-identification workshop was held on 7–9 December 2024.
2025
Nairobi, Kenya
Second African Congress on Catholic Education
Held on 4–7 December 2025, the Congress received a message from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV: “Today, many African leaders and officials were educated in our schools, yet the situation on the continent remains critical at several levels.”
2027
Luanda, Angola
Third African Congress on Catholic Education
Announced for 4–7 November 2027, marking the fifth anniversary of the African Compact on Education, hosted by the Church in Angola and the Catholic University of Angola.
Framework of action
Six areas of action
Research and innovation
Training
Support to actors in the field
Dissemination of knowledge and good practices
Spaces for reflection and sharing
International representation
From Rome and the continent
Institutional messages
Message of the Holy Father to the participants of the Second African Congress on Catholic Education
“Today, many African leaders and officials were educated in our schools, yet the situation on the continent remains critical at several levels.”
Pape Léon XIV
Supreme Pontiff — December 4, 2025
Message on the occasion of the inauguration of the Institute for African Compact on Education
“The creation of an Institute for the African Compact on Education is unique of its kind and will certainly be a stimulus not only for Africa as a whole, but also for realities on other continents.”
José Tolentino Cardinal de Mendonça
Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education — December 2, 2024
A continental network
Country experiences
- Angola
- CameroonSince 2021
- Côte d’IvoireSince 2023
- KenyaSince 2025
- MozambiqueSince 2022
- NigeriaSince 2022
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the CongoSince 2022
- RwandaSince 2017
- TanzaniaSince 2022
Countries whose educational experiences are documented in the Institute’s sources.
Explore the country experiences
Partners and network
Holy See
Constant accompaniment of the preparatory work and development of the African Compact on Education since 2018.
Dicastery for Culture and Education
Prefect: His Eminence José Tolentino Cardinal de Mendonça, author of the message for the Institute’s inauguration (2 December 2024).
SECAM — Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
International Foundation Religions and Societies
Created on 8 July 2018; co-organiser of the African congresses on Catholic education.
Partner Catholic universities
Catholic University of Rwanda, Catholic University of Central Africa, Catholic University of Congo, Catholic University of West Africa, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Tangaza University, Hekima University College, Catholic University of Angola.
Shared knowledge
Resources of the Institute
Publications, studies and research, institutional documents, pedagogical resources, speeches and multimedia: a knowledge repository serving African educators.
Explore the resourcesThe life of the Institute
News of the Institute
The Institute’s forthcoming news and activities will be published here.
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Take part in the Compact’s momentum
Registration arrangements for activities, congresses and training will be published as soon as they are confirmed by the Institute.