Outcome RWA_D_1.1

By 2029, people in Rwanda benefit from transparent and accountable governance that fosters inclusive, equitable socio-economic transformation, human rights, gender equality, unity, peace and security.

In 2025, UN Women Rwanda contributed meaningfully to progress toward strengthening the foundations for transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that supports equitable socio-economic transformation, human rights, gender equality, unity, peace, and security. Working in close collaboration with key government institutions including Parliament, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), the National Women’s Council (NWC), sector ministries, districts, and the City of Kigali as well as women-led networks, civil society organizations, media partners, and the broader UN system, UN Women supported in the advancement of both institutional accountability and inclusive participation. F or example, newly elected women parliamentarians strengthened their oversight role through improved understanding and application of gender-responsive legislation and budgeting. Women leaders and young women also accessed regular platforms for dialogue and mentorship. These changes constitute tangible benefits for people particularly women and young people by strengthening accountability for GEWE commitments and improving the inclusiveness of governance processes that shape laws, policies, and services. By reinforcing capacities within state institutions while simultaneously strengthening the agency and influence of women leaders and gender advocates, UN Women supported mutually reinforcing accountability processes aligned with Rwanda’s national priorities, the National Strategy for Transformation II (NST2 2024–2029), and international normative frameworks. At the institutional level, UN Women partnered with Parliament, through the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP), to strengthen gender-responsive legislative leadership and oversight early in the new parliamentary term. Technical and financial support to FFRP enabled newly elected parliamentarians to enhance their understanding of gender equality principles, gender-responsive budgeting, and oversight responsibilities, reinforcing Parliament’s role as a driver of accountable and inclusive governance. Collaboration with MIGEPROF, GMO, sector ministries, and decentralized government structures further strengthened executive and local-level capacities for gender-responsive planning, budgeting, and monitoring. Directors of planning, monitoring and evaluation officers, and programme managers at national and local levels improved their ability to apply gender analysis, use sex-disaggregated data, and align policies and budgets with GEWE commitments, reinforcing transparency and accountability within public finance and planning systems. UN Women also worked closely with GMO, national gender machinery, and development partners to generate and promote the use of policy-relevant evidence to inform gender-responsive policy and fiscal reforms. Knowledge products and analytical inputs on gender-responsive budgeting, procurement, and gender-transformative infrastructure supported government-led efforts to identify structural gender gaps and reform priorities. These collaborations strengthened enhanced coherence between national policies, fiscal frameworks, and Rwanda’s international commitments, while reinforcing government ownership of reform processes and increasing the likelihood that public resources respond to the specific needs of women, young people, and marginalized groups. The agency of women leaders, gender advocates, organizations, and networks to actively participate in decision-making and hold institutions accountable for GEWE commitments with support from UN Women. Through partnerships with FFRP, the National Women’s Council, women-led civil society organizations, youth groups, media institutions, and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Rwanda Chapter, UN Women supported leadership development, intergenerational dialogue, and advocacy platforms that enhanced women’s collective voice and influence. Technical and advisory support to NWC and AWLN Rwanda, in coordination with the AWLN Global Secretariat, enabled the operationalization of a national leadership agenda and the implementation of mentorship programmes, Women Leaders Cafés, and nationwide intergenerational dialogues across higher learning institutions. These initiatives expanded mentorship linkages, strengthened peer learning, and increased young women’s readiness to engage leadership and accountability platforms. The CO in collaboration with media partners and civil society actors to amplify women’s leadership narratives and promote positive social norms around women’s participation in governance and decision-making. Public advocacy and media engagement complemented leadership development initiatives by increasing the visibility of women leaders, encouraging societal acceptance of women’s leadership, and reinforcing accountability-oriented mindsets among both duty bearers and rights holders. Through structured dialogue, mentorship, and advocacy, women leaders and gender advocates strengthened their ability to articulate GEWE priorities, engage public institutions, and challenge discriminatory norms and practices within governance systems.