Outcome RWA_D_4.1

The UN system in Rwanda, State and non-state actors coherently and systematically contribute to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Progress toward stronger, more coherent contributions to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls was supported through improved coordination, shared accountability, and strengthened use of evidence across the UN system and national partners. The UN system in Rwanda strengthened coherent and systematic contributions to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through institutionalised coordination mechanisms, including the UNCT Gender, Human Rights, Diversity and Inclusion (GHRD&I) Team, as well as shared accountability frameworks such as the UNCT Gender Equality Scorecard (UN-SWAP), Gender Equality Markers, and coordinated engagement in normative and reporting processes including CEDAW, Beijing+30, and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). UN Women Rwanda’s convening, coordination, and technical support supported the alignment of institutions, actors, and processes around common gender equality priorities, enabling more systematic engagement with national, regional, and global commitments. A key area of progress is the strengthened role of evidence in shaping policy dialogue, advocacy, and decision-making on gender equality. Improved collaboration among national statistical institutions, government entities, civil society, and the UN system is expected to contribute to a more consistent production and use of gender-disaggregated data. Enhanced technical capacity among data producers and clearer identification of data gaps, particularly in areas such as gender-based violence, supports more credible analysis and reporting. These improvements strengthen the ability of multiple actors to engage in informed dialogue, track progress, and advocate for gender-responsive policies and programmes using shared evidence. System level coherence across the UN system was further reinforced through strengthened inter-agency coordination mechanisms and the use of common tools for integrating gender equality, human rights, and inclusion across programming. The restructuring of coordination platforms, combined with targeted capacity development for UN staff, improved shared understanding of gender mainstreaming standards and accountability frameworks. As a result, UN entities are now better equipped to apply common approaches such as gender markers, scorecards, and human rights-based programming, supporting more consistent integration of gender equality across planning, implementation, monitoring, and communications in line with the UNSDCF. At the national and intergovernmental levels, improved coordination supported more strategic engagement with global and regional gender equality processes. National stakeholders demonstrated increased ownership of commitments related to CSW, Beijing+30, and regional frameworks, with clearer alignment between global priorities and national strategies. CSOs and women’s rights organisations played a more substantive role in shaping Rwanda’s inputs into key national and global reporting processes, including reporting related to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing+30 review process, and preparations for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Their engagement strengthened transparency, broadened perspectives reflected in official reports, and increased accountability for the implementation of gender equality commitments. Coordinated preparation for intergovernmental processes, including Rwanda’s leadership role within the CSW70 Bureau, demonstrated growing national capacity to engage collectively and strategically, with clearer alignment between national priorities and global gender equality frameworks. Multi-stakeholder platforms further supported shared understanding of persistent gender gaps and renewed commitment to gender-transformative action. Dialogue across government, the UN system, civil society, academia, the private sector, youth, and media deepened awareness of intersecting challenges including gender-based violence, economic inequality, health disparities, climate vulnerability, and the digital divide and reinforced the relevance of global gender frameworks to Rwanda’s development trajectory. These spaces also strengthened alignment of advocacy and messaging, contributing to more coordinated and visible engagement on gender equality across sectors. By improving the use of evidence, reinforcing coordination mechanisms, and supporting inclusive engagement with normative and intergovernmental processes, UN Women Rwanda and its partners contributed to an enabling environment in which State and non-state actors are better aligned, more accountable, and more effective in advancing gender equality commitments. Sustaining this progress will require continued investment in coordination, capacity, and follow-up to ensure that shared commitments translate into lasting change for women and girls.