Rwanda Launches $13 Million Outcomes-Based Early Childhood Education Programme

Kigali, Rwanda. 29 October 2025 – The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) and with the support of the LEGO Foundation, has launched the country's first national outcomes-based financing programme for early childhood care and education (ECCE). The initiative will reach more than 25,000 children aged 3 to 5 years in 390 community-based early child development (ECD) facilities across the country. Building on its early childhood reforms, the Government of Rwanda is pioneering outcomes-based financing as a core part of its national strategy, linking funding to measurable improvements in the quality and inclusivity of early learning.

Ingabire Assumpta, the Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), said: “This initiative reflects Rwanda’s commitment to quality and inclusion in early childhood development. By tying funding to results, we make sure every investment leads to measurable progress, especially for vulnerable children. This programme aligns with our national strategy to ensure all children have the strong foundation they need to excel in life.” 

Dr. Amel Karboul, CEO of the Education Outcomes Fund, shared: “Every outcome here has a name and a face. Over 25,000 children, many with disabilities, will have a better start in life because the Government of Rwanda chose to link funding to their progress. When we measure success by children’s growth, reform moves from promise to proof.” 

Over the next four years, the programme aims to improve child development and school readiness outcomes, bridge the gap in quality between formal and community-based ECDs, and generate robust evidence on the most effective interventions that lead to real results for children in Rwanda.  

Three grantees are implementing the programme: Help a Child, working in consortium with the African Evangelistic Enterprise and Bridges Outcomes Partnerships; Plan International, working in consortium with Caritas and Bridges Outcomes Partnerships; and Save the Children. The outcomes-based financing model enables implementing partners to test approaches, course-correct, and innovate to improve children's outcomes, with payments contingent upon independently verified results. This ensures transparency, value for money, and better outcomes. 

Rose Baguma, Head of Education Policy Department at the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), said: "This initiative aligns with our national commitment to give every child the best start in life. It will not only expand access and improve quality in early childhood education but generate robust evidence to guide future policy and investment in Rwanda and across the region." 

In this outcomes-based programme, children with disabilities have been placed at the centre of the design. The programme will support inclusive enrolment, upgrade ECD facilities infrastructure to meet accessibility needs, build caregiver capacity, and strengthen referral pathways. This approach reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability or background, can access quality early learning.   

Sidsel Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation, said: “Investing in the early years is one of the smartest and most transformative actions we can take. At the LEGO Foundation we believe that childhood is more than a phase of life, it’s the making of one, and therefore we are proud to partner with EOF to support Rwanda’s first national outcomes-based financing programme for early childhood. By placing inclusion and quality at the heart of early learning, we can ensure that every child – including those with disabilities – will thrive and grow through joyful, meaningful learning.” 

Eduardo Ramos O’Connell, Associate and Programme Lead at Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, added: “Early childhood is a critical stage in every child’s development. We’re delighted to be partnering in Rwanda’s first nationally commissioned outcomes partnership, which places children at the heart of delivery and ties funding to meaningful impact.” 

Throughout the four years of the programme, an independent evaluation will generate robust evidence and learnings on the interventions across the three grantees. The findings will inform government policy, shape national planning, and influence how early learning is financed across Africa and globally. The evaluation will measure both impact and cost-effectiveness, ensuring that future investments are based on what works for children. 

This programme is one of four major outcomes-based education programmes launching in the next few months, alongside similar initiatives in Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Nigeria. Together, they represent over $82 million in outcomes funding and signal a global shift in education finance from pilot projects to national strategies.  

About the Education Outcomes Fund: The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) is a global initiative transforming how education and skills are financed and delivered. We partner with governments, donors, investors, and implementors to make education systems more effective, equitable, and accountable. Through our outcomes partnership model, funding is tied to measurable results, aligning incentives across all actors to ensure that resources lead to real improvements in learning and employment outcomes.  

For more information, contact: 

John MBARAGA, Communication and Mass Education Specialist, NCDA

Laura Romig, Communications & Advocacy Manager, Education Outcomes Fund