About
The identity, educational vision, history and governance of the Institute for African Compact on Education.
Who we are
The Institute for African Compact on Education (IACE) grew out of a continental process carried by the Church in Africa since 2017: making education the primary lever for transforming African societies. It brings together bishops, Catholic universities, religious congregations, teachers and actors in the field around a shared educational commitment.
Inaugurated on 2 December 2024 with the support of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Institute combines research rooted in local knowledge, the training of trainers and the accompaniment of educators.
Our missions
Three constitutive missions, set out at the Institute’s inauguration.
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.
Our history
From Butare (2017) to Nairobi (2025).
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.
Governance and officers
Son Éminence Antoine Cardinal Kambanda
Archbishop of Kigali, Grand Chancellor of the Institute for African Compact on Education, President of the Episcopal Commission for relations with Episcopal Conferences and Religious Congregations for the African Compact on Education
Professeur Jean-Paul Niyigena
Coordinator of the Institute for African Compact on Education
Son Éminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo
Archbishop of Kinshasa, President of SECAM
Son Excellence Monseigneur Philippe Rukamba
Bishop emeritus of Butare, Southern Co-President emeritus of the International Foundation Religions and Societies, initiator of the process in 2017