RUFORUM, in partnership with its member universities and development partners, is committed to fostering equitable, inclusive, and safe learning and working environments within higher education institutions across Africa. As part of this commitment, Gender, Inclusion and Safeguarding (GIS) have been elevated as core pillars underpinning the TAGDev 2.0 Programme and the broader RUFORUM Strategy 2021–2026. Strengthening institutional capacity to mainstream gender, promote inclusive participation, and prevent and respond to safeguarding risks is essential to achieving a transformative, student-centered higher education system that delivers quality training, research and innovation.

Despite progress made within the network, member universities continue to face context-specific and cross-cutting challenges, including limited institutional capacity, inconsistencies in policy implementation, gaps in safeguarding mechanisms, and the need for stronger leadership engagement. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated, collaborative and peer-driven approach that enables universities to learn from each other, harmonize standards, and accelerate GIS reforms.

To support this, RUFORUM is establishing the Gender, Inclusion and Safeguarding Community of Practice (GIS-CoP), a structured platform that brings together practitioners, focal persons, and leaders from across the RUFORUM network to share knowledge, co-create solutions, provide mutual technical support, and drive collective action. The CoP will serve as both a learning space and an implementation mechanism, ensuring that GIS commitments translate into concrete institutional practices, strengthened systems, and improved outcomes for students and staff.