Media Corner
RELI AFRICA 2026 REGIONAL CONVENING
Regional Education Learning Initiative-RELI Africa network members from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania convene in Nairobi,Kenya.
Following the conclusion of the East African Community Regional Education Conference (EACREC), members of the Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI) Africa gathered in Nairobi for a regional convening under the theme —Reconnect. Reflect. Celebrate.”
The convening provided an opportunity for members from across the region to reflect on shared learning, celebrate progress and consider how the network can translate insights from regional education conversations into meaningful collective action.
For JMERC, the convening was an opportunity to connect learning from the EACREC with the organisation’s ongoing work in foundational learning, adolescent agency and wellbeing, evidence generation, advocacy and systems strengthening.
Our Executive Director, Dr. John Mary Vianney Mitana, in his capacity as RELI Africa Uganda Country Lead, facilitated reflections on regional priorities and collective action. The discussions encouraged members to consider how the network can move from shared commitments and learning towards deeper collaboration and action.
The conversations reinforced the importance of strong foundations for learning, evidence-informed practice, intentional collaboration and partnerships that can take promising ideas beyond individual organisations and contribute to wider education-system change.
Dr. Joyce Malombe, Founder of RELI Africa and Director at the Rising Leaders Center also challenged members to continue building on the collective vision and ambition of the network, celebrating what has been achieved while remaining open to learning, reflection and asking what more can be done for Africa’s children and young people.
For JMERC, the convening reaffirmed the value of working collectively across the education ecosystem. Through RELI Africa, organisations bring diverse experiences and expertise together to learn, share evidence and strengthen efforts towards more responsive and equitable education systems.
As we move forward, JMERC remains committed to keeping children and young people at the centre, strengthening the foundations for learning, using evidence to inform change, and building partnerships that make collective action possible.