RWAMREC at Segal 2026: Building Connections for Greater Impact

Nairobi, Kenya | 21–24 July 2026

RWAMREC Executive Director Fidèle Rutayisire participated in Segal 2026: The Next Beat, a landmark convening organized by the Segal Family Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya.

Bringing together more than 790 delegates from over 30 countries, the four-day event united social innovators, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, funders, researchers, and development partners committed to advancing African-led solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.

RWAMREC’s participation was made possible through the generous support of the Imago Dei Fund, which invited Fidèle to attend the convening as one of its funded partners. The opportunity reflects Imago Dei Fund’s continued investment in strengthening the leadership, networks, and capacity of the organizations it supports.

A Week of Learning, Inspiration, and Strategic Connections

Throughout the four-day convening, participants took part in plenary discussions, breakout sessions, workshops, and informal networking opportunities focused on leadership, innovation, systems change, philanthropy, and community-driven development.

For RWAMREC, Segal 2026 provided an important opportunity to:

• Connect with social innovators, funders, and development practitioners from across Africa and beyond.

• Strengthen existing partnerships while building new relationships with organizations working on complementary social justice and development initiatives.

• Exchange practical experiences on organizational growth, sustainable funding, innovation, and scaling evidence-based interventions.

• Learn from leading African organizations developing locally driven solutions to complex social challenges.

One of the most impactful sessions was “How to Maximize Your Moment,” organized by the Imago Dei Fund. The session encouraged leaders to intentionally steward the opportunities entrusted to them, emphasizing that leadership is not only about responding to opportunities but also about maximizing their potential to create lasting impact.

This message strongly resonated with RWAMREC’s vision of expanding gender-transformative programming across Rwanda and the African continent.

SEGAL 2026 Live: Power in Connection — Vusi Thembekwayo & Isabelle Kamariza | JULY 22 | 9 AM EAT: https://www.youtube.com/live/PVURWsRNmp0?si=D5ecj8T5ReOWOzpc

Key Reflections from Segal 2026

The conversations and experiences at Segal 2026 reinforced several lessons that will continue to inform RWAMREC’s work.

Meaningful change begins with connection

Some of the most valuable conversations happened outside formal sessions—during coffee breaks, shared meals, and informal exchanges. These moments demonstrated the power of relationships and human connection in advancing social change.

Collaboration accelerates impact

The convening highlighted the importance of collaboration among civil society organizations, governments, philanthropies, researchers, and communities. Addressing increasingly complex social challenges requires diverse actors to share knowledge, resources, and expertise.

African organizations are leading innovation

Across the conference, participants showcased bold and evidence-based solutions developed by African organizations. These examples reaffirmed that sustainable development is strongest when local institutions and communities lead the design and implementation of change.

Leadership requires intentional stewardship

Segal 2026 also emphasized the importance of carefully nurturing opportunities, partnerships, and resources. Effective leadership means using these assets strategically to generate long-term value and impact for communities.

Looking Ahead

RWAMREC returns from Segal 2026 with renewed energy, valuable new relationships, practical insights, and fresh ideas that will strengthen its ongoing work to promote gender equality, healthy masculinities, violence prevention, and social justice.

The connections established during the convening will contribute to expanding collaboration with regional and global partners while further positioning RWAMREC as an African organization advancing evidence-based and gender-transformative programming.

RWAMREC expresses its sincere appreciation to the Imago Dei Fund for making this participation possible. Its support enabled valuable learning, strategic networking, and leadership development that will continue to benefit both the organization and the communities it serves.

As reflected throughout the conference, “The Next Beat” is more than a theme—it is a call to continue building a future where meaningful change is created through trust, collaboration, and collective leadership.

RWAMREC is proud to be part of this growing community committed to creating lasting impact across Africa.