Outcome RWA_D_1.1

A diverse cohort of women leaders is formed to lead in governance at local and national level

Through concerted efforts in advocacy, awareness campaigns, skills development, and strategic mobilization, UN Women Rwanda contributed to enhancing women’s leadership and political participation at both national and local levels. These efforts have focused on empowering women leaders from diverse backgrounds, including young women, recent university graduates, rural women, and women living with HIV. As a result, a dynamic and inclusive cohort of women and girls’ leaders (380 interns, 30HIV + women) has emerged—better equipped, informed, and motivated to assume leadership roles and advocate for their rights. By supporting a six-month Internship and Mentorship Program for young female university graduates, UN Women, in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), local districts, and the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), has significantly advanced women's leadership in decision making structures at local levels. With UN Women's support, 380 young women gained hands-on leadership experience within government structures across the country. According to RALGA’s impact assessment, the program delivered remarkable results: 49% of graduates have secured employment, while 20 young women have been elected to local government positions. This directly contributes to addressing the constitutional requirement of 30% women’s representation in decentralized governance structures and narrowing the gender gap in governance and strengthening women’s leadership at the grassroots level. The program’s success has led to its expansion, with 127 new graduates who joined in 2025, further reinforcing the pathway for young women to enter and thrive in local governance. UN Women in collaboration with the Rwanda Network of People living with HIV(RRP+) equipped 30 young women with leadership skills through training workshops, coaching, and policy advisory support. As a result, they have become vocal advocates against discrimination and challenged self-stigma related to HIV inspiring their peers to be agents for HIV prevention and women’s rights. Using storytelling approaches at public awareness campaigns and mass media, they have promoted messages of self-care, and an end to stigma contributing to shifting societal perceptions to leave no one behind. Additionally, UN Women and RRP+ have leveraged mass media platforms—including television, and social media—to amplify the voices of young women living with HIV and advocate for inclusive policies. These initiatives have broken the silence around HIV-related stigma and encouraged open discussions on prevention and rights-based advocacy. As a result, many of these young women have taken on leadership roles HIV advocacy groups, youth organizations, cooperatives and in local councils. UN Women has successfully applied the Gender Action Learning (GAL) approach, a participatory methodology designed to foster gender equality among rural women and rural communities in Gisagara, Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyamasheke and Nyaruguru districts. By equipping them in leadership skills, through community dialogues, and mentorship initiatives, this approach has been instrumental in strengthening their leadership and decision-making skills as well as enhancing, their confidence to actively participate in local governance, economic activities, and advocacy efforts. As a result, more rural women are now engaging in local decision-making structures particularly by taking leadership roles in cooperatives, community development committees, and local councils, where they advocate for women’s rights, financial inclusion, and social protection. By targeting rural women, young women living with HIV, and university graduates through tailored programs, UN Women has demonstrated its commitment to empowering all women to participate meaningfully in leadership and decision-making. These achievements underscore the transformative impact of collaboration, capacity building, and sustained advocacy in promoting women’s leadership and political participation across all sectors of Rwandan society. Link International Women’s Day: https://twitter.com/unwomenrwanda/status/1766020663557370277

A diverse cohort of women leaders is formed to lead in governance at local and national level

As a result of UN Women’s advocacy, awareness campaigns, skills enhancement, a diverse cohort of young women are better equipped, informed and encouraged to exercise leadership roles. Additionally, women's leadership and participation in decision making organs is promoted through the convening power of networks such as the Rwanda Women Leaders Network (RWLN) Summit held under the theme "Building the Next Generation of Women Leaders" was convened by the Ministry of Gender and Family promotion in collaboration with UN Women. The summit brought together 250 diverse cohort of women leaders from various sectors and backgrounds including high level government officials, representatives of institutions, women leaders from across generations, students, private sector and civil society. The summit strengthened women and girls’ connection, mutual support among women leaders and reinforced their influence at different levels. As such, the summit enhanced women’s vertical and horizontal peer learning and promoted mentoring of the next generation of women leaders. This also provided an opportunity to discuss ways in which they can fully exploit their potential, how to nurture young women and girls’ leadership and how to give back to the community by those already in leadership positions through mentorship, coaching etc. Link: First Lady launches African Women Leaders Network Rwanda Chapter - The New Times Negative gender stereotypes and harmful social norms continue to be the major underlying causes that create inequalities and hold back women in Rwanda from achieving their potential despite the strong policy, legal and institutional environment. This has resulted in and exacerbated vulnerabilities of girls and young women especially those living with HIV and hindering their empowerment, perpetuating HIV-related stigma and leading to limited access to quality and differentiated health services. HIV related stigma also hamper girls, young women, and teen mothers’ capacities to speak out about gender-based violence and reluctant to seek justice. In an effort to tackle negative social norms that hinder women's participation in leadership positions, UN Women in partnership with Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV(RRP+) continued to support adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in leadership, advocacy, and social media management to claim their rights to access quality and reliable health services. 30 adolescent girls and young women whose capacities and skills in leadership, public speaking, advocacy, and social media management were strengthened, received coaching to further enhance their skills. The girls and young women continued to develop and produce content using various platforms on issues such as gender inequalities in HIV prevention and response thereby reshaping perceptions to eliminate discrimination and stigma towards people living with HIV. Link: Social Media, A New Approach to Promote Rights for Women And Girls Living With HIV In Rwanda https://www.ktpress.rw/2023/05/featured-social-media-a-new-approach-to-promote-rights-for-women-and-girls-living-with-hiv-in-rwanda

A diverse cohort of women leaders is formed to lead in governance at local and national level

UN Women Rwanda made strong progress in supporting a diverse cohort of women leaders to lead in governance at both local and national levels. In 2022, UN Women continued to support National Gender Machinery Institutions (Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Gender Monitoring Office, National Women Council, and Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum) and other Implementing partners to ensure that women’s capacity to compete for leadership positions and leading in decision-making processes is strengthened. As a result, 1061 women and girls (including 30 women with disabilities and 30 women and girls living with HIV) increased their leadership potential and abilities as well as their confidence to perform their respective responsibilities through the provision of transformational leadership trainings, peer learning, networking dialogues and mentorship programmes. At local level, 20 out of 120 (17%) young women graduates from the first cohort of a 6 months’ professional internship initiative which started in 2021 and initiated by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and UN Women in collaboration with the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) were elected in leadership positions in local government structures after being equipped with skills and knowledge in transformational leadership. The second edition of professional internship initiative of 120 young women graduates was launched in August 2022. The initiative will continue to sustain internship placements for young women graduates in local government entities to inspire them to take up leadership roles. Furthermore, at both national and local levels, networking and mentorship opportunities further helped to strengthen connections and mutual support among women and girl leaders at different levels and provided a good opportunity for inspirational experience sharing. Noteworthy is a Women Leaders Network Summit that was convened by the Ministry of Gender and Family promotion in collaboration UN Women that brought together 500 diverse cohort of women leaders that included, ministers, parliamentarians, senators, senior officers from Rwanda National Police, CEOs from financial institutions, provincial governors and newly elected women and leaders representatives from National Women Council elected from village to national level among others. The summit aimed to strengthen women and girls’ connection, mutual support among women leaders and also reinforce their influence at different levels. As such, the summit enhanced women’s vertical and horizontal peer learning, mentoring the next generation of women leaders and sustaining achieved results. The women and girls shared challenges and ideas on how to fully exploit their potential, nurture young women and girls’ leadership through programmes aimed at empowering them and, allow those already in leadership positions give back to the community through mentorship, entrepreneurship etc. The diverse group of women leaders also included women in sports, women with disabilities, youth councils and youth volunteers which allowed for diverse viewpoints and discussions on leadership and gave them strategic direction on how to play their role and be more influential in their different areas of work.

A diverse cohort of women leaders is formed to lead in governance at local and national level

Women are better equipped, informed and encouraged to participate in elections as both voters and candidates as a result of UN Women’s advocacy, awareness campaigns, skills enhancement and placements. In addition, provincial and zone elections coordinators were equipped with capacities and knowledge on gender-responsive and inclusive elections. In partnership with the National Gender Machinery in Rwanda, and through successful mobilization of women, a pool of encouraged, motivated and confident women were organized to aspire to leadership roles and submitted their candidacies in the local government elections of 2021. This contributed to the increase of women representation in local government decision-making. The data from the 2016 and 2021 elections shows and increase from 30.5% to 37% of women among elected Presidents of the Councils. In the past there was a high majority of women occupying the position of District Consultative Councils Secretaries but as more women took on higher functions of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Councils, the gender bias in the secretarial function for women have slightly reduced. In the 2016 elections, 16.1% of men and 83.9% of women were elected Council Secretaries while 2021 local elections saw 22% of men and 78% of women elected Consultative Councils Secretaries. This indicates a shift in mindset of people demystifying the old traditional beliefs that women are holders of social and care positions and not leadership positions. Cohorts of young women are being groomed to exercise leadership roles in governance systems. The professional internships for young women graduates interested in serving local government has been the strategy used to train future women leaders. UN Women in partnership with the National Gender Machinery (NGM) and Rwanda Association of Local Government Authority (RALGA) organized a professional internship initiative to promote leadership among 120 young women, newly graduated from universities. In the 2021 local government elections, many of these young women were encouraged to participate as candidates in the election and 20 women interns were elected in different councils at local levels. Similar trends are noted on other levels. In 2016, 19.4% of women were elected Mayors in comparison to 30% of women in 2021. Despite this progress, women remain underrepresented, in particular in fields considered a male domain. For elected vice Mayors (in charge of economic affairs), only 15 % are women.