Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_3.1
Communities and other stakeholders are better able to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and deliver essential services to victims
The Government of Rwanda’s commitment to GBV prevention and response is evident through various efforts aimed at increasing community and stakeholder understanding of GBV prevention and response and are better able to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and deliver essential services to victims. Within this framework, UN Women, in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Rwanda National Police, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Ministry of Sports, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), the Rwanda Media Council (RMC), the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), the University of Rwanda, has contributed significantly to community, youth, media, and local leaders’ engagement in addressing negative social norms and fostering behavior change. These efforts have enhanced the capacity of stakeholders and community members to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (S/GBV), thereby promoting transformative societal change towards gender equality and the eradication of GBV. Through strategic partnerships with MIGEPROF and a broad coalition of stakeholders, UN Women has strengthened community engagement and increased media coverage of GBV, driving public awareness and empowering individuals and institutions to take action. As such, UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), enhanced the capacity of 50 media professionals to improve their coverage of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in the online space. The media professionals who benefited from the training included chief editors, heads of media houses, and YouTubers. The training, supported by experts from institutions such as the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Rwanda Media Council (RMC), Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), and the University of Rwanda, resulted in a significant shift in how GBV is reported equipped participants with valuable skills to ensure that their reporting increased public awareness and understanding of GBV without exacerbating victim trauma. The training also emphasized the importance of ethical journalism in GBV coverage, teaching media professionals to challenge gender stereotypes and avoid re-victimization of survivors. This capacity-building initiative led to media representatives committing to several key actions to improve GBV reporting, including the establishment of gender desks within media houses, empowering female journalists with greater access to GBV-related information, and advocating for the coordination of resources and actions among stakeholders. These resolutions contribute to a more professional and responsive media landscape in addressing GBV, fostering a deeper commitment to the prevention and response to violence through informed and sensitive reporting practices. As a direct outcome of this initiative, trained media professionals have significantly contributed to raising awareness and advocating for gender equality and GBV prevention and response. This has been evident in the production of a variety of gender-sensitive articles that have amplified the conversation around these critical issues. Furthermore, UN Women has enhanced the capacity of institutions to respond to S/GBV and empowered adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through strategic partnerships and initiatives aligned with national efforts to strengthen Rwanda's overall response to GBV. In collaboration with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), 54 nurses from 45 hospitals hosting Isange One Stop Centers (IOSCs) have received training in forensic examination, evidence collection, and trauma-informed care, thereby improving the quality of care delivered to S/GBV survivors. UN Women also partnered with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) to develop a comprehensive, costed operational plan for the AGYW program, designed to reduce HIV infections and unintended pregnancies. Underpinned by a robust multisectoral monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, this plan ensures evidence-based decision-making for future programming.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RWA_D_3.2
Attitudes and behaviours related to women's and girl's rights to enjoy spaces free from VAW improved
In 2024, UN Women, through strategic collaborations with ActionAid Rwanda, Nyaruguru District, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, and other stakeholders, made significant progress in improving attitudes and behaviors related to women's and girls’ rights to enjoy spaces free from violence against women (VAW), addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and negative social norms. A total of 101 educators and district officials gained essential skills to challenge harmful gender stereotypes, foster proactive community engagement, and GBV case, reporting. These efforts represent a key turning point in shifting local attitudes and behaviors toward greater gender equality. One of the most impactful outcomes was the creation of the “Gender Champions of Nyaruguru District” alumni group. This group, with its tailored action plan, plays a pivotal role in sustaining long-term, community-driven efforts to prevent GBV and nurture respectful relationships. Furthermore, the strengthened coordination between educators, district authorities, and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau will continue to enhance both GBV prevention and response systems. These early achievements are a strong foundation for building a future where gender equality is consistently promoted and violence against women is eradicated.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_1
Enhanced coordination, coherence and accountability of the UN system for commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment
In 2024, the UN Women Country Office for Rwanda strengthened coordination and harmonization efforts to support the achievement of national gender equality priorities, as part of its triple mandate. Leveraging the reform of the United Nations development system, UN Women seized opportunities to deliver more coherent and impactful support for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Key achievements in 2024 included the successful implementation of the UNCT-approved Gender Theme Group (GTG) Annual Work Plan (AWP), ensuring a coordinated and collaborative approach to gender-responsive interventions across UN agencies. To influence the UNSDCF development process for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), the UN Women Country Office developed tools and frameworks to ensure gender was systematically mainstreamed throughout all stages of the UNSDCF development. These internal preparation efforts involved selecting relevant UN Women sample documents, designing a data collection tool and gender-sensitive indicators, and leveraging existing tools such as the Gender Equality Marker (GEM), the UN INFO platform, and the UNCT-SWAP GE Scorecard. These resources were utilized to train UN thematic groups and results groups including PMT, OMT, M&E, and UNCG on integrating gender equality considerations into their processes. These interventions ensured a gender-responsive approach in the development of the UNSDCF and strengthened alignment with GEWE objectives across UN system frameworks and processes.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_2
Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate
UN Women made significant strides in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through strategic partnerships and communications. These efforts have not only promoted its own work but also that of its partners, strengthening relationships at both regional and national levels. In 2024, UN Women played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration through the establishment of the informal Development Partners (DP) gender group, advocating for the integration of gender equality into national development policies and ensuring its inclusion in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) (2024–2029). Additionally, the Country Office, in promoting gender-sensitive disaster response, partnered with the Ministry of Emergency Management through the establishment of the Cluster of Assistance to Vulnerable Groups/Protection. The cluster ensures a coordinated and effective national disaster response system, one that fosters greater resilience and protection for women and marginalized groups in times of crisis. With extensive media coverage, UN Women amplified transformative stories of women breaking barriers, while also showcasing Rwanda’s impressive achievements such as the increase in women’s parliamentary representation from 61.3% in 2018 to 63.8% in the 2024 elections, cementing the country’s leadership in gender equality in governance. Targeted campaigns with media practitioners raised awareness of critical issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), including online GBV, and mobilized action on these fronts. By leveraging its relationships with key media outlets, the regional office, and the ONE UN, UN Women effectively raised awareness of its transformative work in empowering women and girls across the country. These stories not only highlighted individual transformations but also underscored the broader impact of UN Women’s programs on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Noteworthy narratives featured women breaking barriers in male-dominated fields, survivors of domestic violence becoming advocates for gender equality, and entrepreneurial women overcoming adversity.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RWA_O_3
High quality of programmes through knowledge, innovation, results-based management and evaluation
In 2024, the Country Office carried out a Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE) which examined the relevance, strategic positioning, and operational efficiency of UN Women's programs in Rwanda from 2019 to 2024. The evaluation received a high-quality assessment rating of 98.74% (Very Good) under the Global Evaluation Report Assessment and Analysis System (GERAAS) measures, underscoring its credibility and utility. Guided by an inclusive and participatory approach, the process was overseen by an Evaluation Reference Group (ERG), comprising representatives from the government, UN agencies, and civil society organizations (CSOs) who ensured impartiality, enhanced transparency, and fostered accountability. The process generated actionable insights and key lessons that include (i) transformative potential of integrated programming across thematic areas, with women’s economic empowerment identified as a strategic entry point to advance other thematic areas for sustainability and systemic change (ii) leveraging the UN Delivering as One approach to promote coherence in gender programming across the UN Country Team and (iii) Enhanced synergies in programs among UN agencies through better planning, implementation, and monitoring to maximise the potential of Joint Programming. As a result, the lessons informed the development of the new Strategic Note (2025-2029), which puts emphasis on sex-disaggregated data and integrated interventions as strategies to address structural barriers, for long-term transformation. The evaluation serves as valuable learning tool, offering insights that inform UN Women’s strategic direction in Rwanda while contributing to the broader knowledge base for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. UN Women Rwanda continued its commitment to delivering high-quality programs through the integration of results-based management (RBM), rigorous evaluations, and knowledge innovation. Annual training sessions in RBM and financial reporting for UN Women staff, implementing partners, and responsible parties ensured effective compliance with UN Women’s regulations. As a result, 43 programme and implementing partner staff enhanced their RBM skills, enabling the CO and its partners to produce evidence-based plans, reports, and human-interest stories that informed the entire programme cycle and decision-making processes. Notably, 100% of donor reports were submitted on time, maintaining a high standard of quality. The integration of RBM principles, alongside robust evaluations such as the Country Portfolio Evaluation (CPE), the final evaluation of the Joint Programme on Gender, and the Joint Programme on Rural Women's Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) baseline study, provided key insights that are shaping the future direction of UN Women’s interventions. Additionally, market and value chain studies, conducted in partnership with FAO, IFAD, and WFP, identified critical barriers and opportunities in agricultural markets, further informing program design to address gender inequalities and enhance economic empowerment for women. By systematically applying RBM principles, UN Women Rwanda has strengthened programme planning, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring a greater focus on accountability, effectiveness, and the empowerment of women and girls. These efforts were complemented by community feedback mechanisms and strategic stakeholder consultations that fostered enhanced collaboration and alignment with local needs for program effectiveness and sustainability.Showing 6 - 10 of 11