Outcome RWA_D_2.1

New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets

In 2024, UN Women Rwanda contributed to efforts that have addressed systemic barriers such as gender disparities in technology access, unpaid care work, limited access to finance and market, lack of gender equality standard and limited participation in STEM fields as well as private sector. Collaborations with various organizations have advanced women’s food security, reduced malnutrition, fostered women's economic independence and promoted gender responsive environment within public and private institution through gender seal certification and development of gender equality standard for Rwanda. For example, UN Women together with UNDP, GMO, PSF, RSB developed the gender equality standard (GES-059) and its adoption and implementation lead to more equitable, inclusive and sustainable development outcomes benefiting not only women and girls but society as a whole as well as creating mechanisms for holding institutions accountable for gender equality by translating it into action. Collaborations with WFP, IFAD, FAO, SAFE, RWARRI, and the Rwanda Cooperative Agency have significantly unlocked potential opportunities in advanced food security, reduced malnutrition, and fostered women’s economic independence. The integrated approaches of Gender Action Learning System (GALS) and Farmer Field and Life Schools (FFLS) empowered women to challenge traditional gender roles, adopt modern agricultural practices, and build resilience to climate challenges. Additionally, training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and e-commerce enabled six thousand of women to access financial services, developed viable business plans, and connected to local and international markets, thereby enhancing their economic opportunities and independence. UN Women supported access to finance initiatives directly supported women with the financial resources needed to start and expand their businesses as well as acquire livestock assets. The increased savings and access to loans enable women to invest in income-generating activities, purchase necessary inputs, and improve their production capacity. Through the partnership between ActionAid and UN Women Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs in Ngoma, Kirehe, and Nyaruguru districts were strengthened, resulting service delivery by, enabling women to pursue economic opportunities for women. Advanced caregiving training improved equipped ECD caregivers with the skills to provide high-quality childcare, enabling women to confidently pursue income-generating activities. Furthermore, awareness campaigns on equitable sharing of household responsibilities, contributed to a more balanced division of care work responsibilities. These combined efforts led to greater gender equality in caregiving and increased economic participation for women, creating a more supportive environment for their economic empowerment. UN Women’s efforts to bridge the gender digital divide have spotlighted the innovations of women and girls as a pathway to women's opportunities to new digital product markets, including marketing, leadership solutions, networking, and partnerships. Through trainings, mentorships, and advocacy—such as those provided by the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)—these efforts have raised awareness of the gender gaps in the digital sector and fostered strategic partnerships. These collaborations will catalyze opportunities for private sector engagement, positioning the private sector as a key driver in closing the gender digital gap in Rwanda. By enhancing women and girls' digital skills and visibility, UN Women is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable digital economy, where women and girls are not only participants but also leaders in shaping digital innovation. Furthermore, the Gender Equality Accountability Programme (GES), supported by UN Women, Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), Private sector federation (PSF) and UNDP, has effectively created gender-responsive business environments within the Rwanda's private sector driving significant progress in gender equality and women's empowerment across both public and private institutions. Key results include 30 out of 54 enrolled institutions earned the prestigious Gold Seal certification for their commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, a reduction in the gender pay gap, increased women’s representation in leadership roles, improved work-life balance, and the development of women-tailored products such as enhanced access to finance. Initially embraced by large companies, the program has also gained traction among SMEs, encouraging the establishment of gender accountability systems across both private and public sectors. These efforts are crucial in fostering an inclusive and equitable business environment where women have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to the economy.

New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets

In this reporting year, UN Women made solid gains in unlocking women’s potential to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets. UN Women worked with stakeholders including the Ministry of Trade and industry, Private Sector Federation, Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) and Civil society organizations to improve the lives of women involved in the business by exploring national and regional business and market opportunities. Women benefited from access to markets with national and international exposure in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya and exchange in African continental free trade area (AfCFTA). Specifically, businesswomen with support from UN Women participated in Africa Accelerate Summit which took place in Kigali in November 2022 under the theme: “Investment and industrialization, Regional Integration of Africa’s SMEs for the smooth implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’’. The event brought together more than 200 participants and key development actors across Africa for a unique business and investment opportunity. Women entrepreneurs with support from UN Women participated in the event to learn and share experiences with entrepreneurs from other African Countries as well as showcase their products through the exhibition organized during the summit. The Country Office also shared its experience toward strengthening and positioning women entrepreneurs to venture into AfCFTA market opportunities and encouraged all stakeholders to include women and girls in their agenda for inclusive and sustainable growth. UN Women will continue to organize forums that benefit women and youth in trade, especially through its quarterly gender dialogue series that will bring AfCFTA experts to discuss how to position women so that they can fully benefit from AfCFTA. In addition, 110 vulnerable women who increased their start-up capital and skills in entrepreneurship, business, and financial literacy with UN Women support in partnership with Association pour le Developpement du Peuple (ADEPE) have ventured into more viable businesses and explored new market opportunities. As a result, through a company, MAHWI Tech, which specializes in connecting businesses to customers these women have secured 10 contracts from different markets including 5 hotels, 2 secondary schools, and restaurants which helped them to increase their income in a more consistent and sustainable manner. In the context of leaving non one Behind, through UN Women support and in collaboration with different partners (CSOs), 2,730 vulnerable women of different categories that included women sex workers, women with disabilities, women living with HIV, young women, and teen mothers enhanced their entrepreneurship and business skills including 83 young women who increased their skills in TVET. As a result of the acquired training in entrepreneurship, business plan development, cooperative management, technical vocational skills, financial literacy and exposure visits, 2,418 out of 2,730 total women (88.6%) confirmed applying saving skills through 130 village saving and loan associations and opened bank accounts to build bankable history in order to access future finance opportunities. The participants were able to save a total of 87,908,600Frw (82,116$) which was used as capital to start income-generating activities such as running small business shops, buying and selling cereals or small livestock, tailoring and fashion design businesses, vegetable and fruits business, selling agriculture inputs, handcrafts, video filming, etc. These women have also been able to access health insurance for their families and build assets. Furthermore, UN Women provided financial and technical support to Hanga Pitchfest, the largest in-person technology event in Rwanda designed to ignite and inspire innovation. The annual startup pitching competition festival organized by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, to showcase tech-entrepreneurs from all over the country and promote the use of technology and innovation in Rwanda attracted over 400 applicants from all over the country. The event saw a women-led solutions Lifesten health, an initiative that seeks to develop incentive-based health and wellness programs to help people adopt healthy behaviour win the first-place award of $50,000 for top innovator prize. During this reporting year, UN Women has also strengthened engagement with Private sector institutions through the gender equality seal (GES) programme implemented in collaboration with Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), Private Sector Federation and UNDP. Consequently, gender accountability has increased in 32 public (the National Bank of Rwanda) and private institutions which committed to implementing gender equality and women empowerment principles (WEPs) and gender seal certification because of training and peer-to-peer exchange on WEPs/GES. So far, 9 out of the 32 institutions have acquired the gender seal certification after complying to the certification requirements. These private companies and public institutions are actively playing their role in creating an inclusive gender-sensitive environment by strengthening the implementation of gender equality policies and practices in their respective organizations. The others have also committed to putting in place gender mainstreaming policies, strategies, and guidelines to promote gender equality for more women to benefit within their companies. Women and girls have started benefiting from these commitments which boosted institutions’ productivity as asserted by the private sector company leaders during the peer-to-peer exchange.

New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets

UN Women has contributed to improve the skills and access to finance and unlocking new opportunities for women to benefit from private sector markets. Women are overrepresented in the agriculture sector which performed rather well during the pandemic and in the less resilient informal sector where 91.2% of women are present. In the formal sector, the unemployment rate has increased since the COVID-19 crisis, with a lower female labour force participation recorded. To address this, UN Women Rwanda continued to increase women’s livelihood skills and access to markets and paid work. In 2023: 100 water Tanks were provided to households of women with disabilities in Rubavu District-Kanama Sector to address unequal access to time-saving, climate-resilient infrastructure technology which remains a considerable impediment to women’s economic empowerment in Rwanda 34 female sex workers, 43 teen moms and 67 vulnerable women who were enrolled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) specialising in hairdressing and tailoring. 50 girls participated in the 1st national coding camp through African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) to bridge the gender digital gap. 40 young vulnerable women linked to employment opportunities. Agriculture is a major employer of women in Rwanda and is an important source of livelihood for women leading to systematic benefits not just for women, but for families and society as a whole in reducing hunger, increasing incomes, and strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and contributing to country economic growth. UN Women recognizes the importance of its strategic partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) towards closing existing gender gaps in accessing agricultural assets, inputs and services and how this can contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment. UN Women Rwanda Country Office therefore joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and other stakeholders to organize three-day multi-stakeholders’ knowledge sharing seminar in line with the development of the new edition of the agriculture strategy (PSTA5), to be launched and implemented for a six-year period, from June 2024 through to 2030. UN Women contributed to different sessions and high-level panel discussion on “PSTA5: Building Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems” highlighting the critical role of women and gender equality in the agriculture sector in Rwanda in enhancing women’s well-being and the well-being of their households, creating opportunities for economic growth, greater incomes, productivity, and resilience. Thus, there is need to have reliable information on gender disaggregated data in Agri-value chains, intentional recognition and action to the critical role of women in agriculture as well as increasing access to resources for women to fully participate across the entire Agri-value chains in Rwanda. More gender responsive agri-food systems are required for better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life for all, so that no one is left behind. The knowledge sharing seminar worked towards the development of its Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5) and supporting the policy process which will contribute to closing gaps in evidence and innovation to inform PSTA 5.The objective of PSTA 5 will be to position the agrifood sector as the key driver for achieving food sovereignty by building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems in order to address key challenges including climate change, natural resource degradation, malnutrition and stunting, low yields, food losses and waste, and weak service provision for access to finance, markets and value addition, as well as a lack of investment in research, innovation, and development. PSTA 5 will also be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all.

New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets

UN Women has contributed to improve the skills and access to finance and unlocking new opportunities for women to benefit from private sector markets. Women are overrepresented in the agriculture sector which performed rather well during the pandemic and in the less resilient informal sector where 91.2% of women are present. In the formal sector, the unemployment rate has increased during the COVID-19 crisis, with a lower female labour force participation recorded. To address this, UN Women Rwanda continued to increase women’s livelihood skills and access to markets and paid work. In 2021: • 80 women entrepreneurs were supported through the UN Women Business Clinics to recover from the crisis and reported to have managed to retain staff, revamp, and develop their businesses. • 3652 rural women received trainings in entrepreneurship and VSLA management, which has increased their income, savings and access through finance though VSLA loans. • 927 women farmers were supported with agricultural inputs and best practices which has increased their income and food security and reduced post-harvest losses. • A Career Women’s Centre was launched to support young women in entrepreneurship, like skills, ICT and innovation. For example, UN Women has contributed to improve the finance access for women through the establishment of 77 VSLAs (composed of 2000 members, 1,696 women and 304 men). Through coaching, entrepreneurship and financial literacy training, the members could set annual saving goals to start or expand business ideas. With the accumulated savings and access to small loans through the VSLAs, 210 businesses could be leveraged by the members. In total, the VSLAs could save a total amount of 40,151$, from which members can apply for loans. The total amount of disbursed loans to members stands at 35,623,560 Rwf (35,623 $). This has provided them with opportunities to leverage businesses resulting in increased income security. The increased income has allowed them to access health insurance, covered school fees and material for their children as well as further expansion of their business ideas. This has led to increased income security, access to decent work and economic independence among the women beneficiaries. UN Women in collaboration with its implementing partners contributed toward unlocking new opportunities for women to benefit from Rwanda's expanding private sector markets. UN Women commissioned and finalized a study on trade barriers affecting women entrepreneurs for wider dissemination. This will form an important tool for advocacy and to inform decision making with the aim of promoting a gender responsive environment in the private sector. In addition, peer to peer learning events inspired private companies and public institution in gender equality and women empowerment within their institutions. In addition, more companies are joining the gender seal certification award processes and are applying the gender responsiveness guideline and standards in partnership with Gender Monitoring Office. So far, 23 private sector companies have been enrolled in the gender equality seal initiative and are at different stages of implementation of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs).