Outcome 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.

Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate

Through pinnacle leadership and collaboration in achieving UN Women's GEWE priorities collectively, this year UN Women significantly explored further partnerships, engagement and advocacy with different Government of Rwanda institutions, partners, media, CSOs, etc. in support of GoR development priorities and awareness-raising of GEWE efforts in the country. Following the UN Women's baseline survey on unpaid care work published in 2022, ( https://bit.ly/3GEc1FI ) showed disproportionate time spent between women and men on unpaid care work. As a result, the Government of Rwanda is revising the family law which will soon value unpaid care work in divorce settlement cases making Rwanda one of the few countries in the world compensating spouses for unpaid care work in divorce settlements. Currently, the bill is at the ministerial level and will soon be tabled before cabinet https://bit.ly/3koUfi4 . In addition, UN Women supported government programmes including generation equality forum commitments, bridging the gender digital gap in STEM and innovation as well as the organization of the connected girls hub side event on the sidelines of YouthConnekt Africa Summit in partnership with Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Ministry of Gender, providing financial and technical support to Hanga Pitchfest, a 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. The government of Rwanda through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion recognized the work of UN Women over the years in providing platforms like the ‘Connekted Girls Hub’ to discuss persisting challenges that limit girls to join STEM careers, saying that the ‘Connekted Girls Hub’ is part of an intentional effort to create a space for stakeholder networking, reflection and learning beyond the overarching priority of STEM. (In this article link attached https://africa.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2022/10/bridging-the-gender-digital-divide-in-africa-un-women-rwanda) . The coordination of the YouthConnekt summit strengthened UN Women Rwanda’s partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Culture, as a result, positioning UN Women as a key technical collaborator. The partnership among others will support a coherent and strengthened gender and youth mainstreaming in policies, initiatives, processes and partnerships. Furthermore, UN Women Rwanda strengthened its partnership with the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), Private Sector Federation (PSF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support private sector companies to promote gender equality and accountability in their businesses. 19 out of 32 enrolled private companies and government agencies were recognized for instituting gender accountability mechanisms and promoting a gender-responsive work environment. Private sector companies committed to provide a solid framework and concrete tools to support private sector companies’ gender equality agenda in line with the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to promote gender equality. Additionally, UN Women has consistently increased its working relationship with leading national media outlets, as a result, the CO's work has been covered extensively including in the East African regional new paper on UN Women's work on GEWE during Common Wealth Heads of State meeting held in Rwanda https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sponsored/chogm-leaders-key-in-promoting-gender-equality-3855444 , in the Newtimes on its COVID recovery support to women house headed households https://www.newtimes.co.rw/featured/new-un-women-programme-sets-out-restore-hope-among-women-most-affected-covid-19 and in the Kinyarwanda paper “Igihe” https://en.igihe.com/news/article/beneficiaries-supported-by-un-women-during-covid-19-cheerful and its work with Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU) in addressing gender-based violence in the mining and quarry sector https://rewu.org.rw/?p=868 , the launch of ECDs in Nyaruguru district to alleviate women's care burden and empower them to get involved in economic activities on Isango TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgJs0g8I1Lw ETC.

Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate

UN Women initiated the collective process, bringing together isolated interventions by some Development Partners and contributing to the gender policy brief “Strengthening Gender Accountability in Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation”. The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), as the institution that plays the major role of coordinating policy implementation, monitoring GEWE, led this process and submitted the policy brief to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) which oversees the work of the development partners and is in charge of the country’s development agenda. The policy brief encapsulates key issues and challenges pertaining to gender equality and women’s empowerment in Rwanda and proposes key gender related priorities and outcomes to be integrated in the next generation of NST in order to accelerate and scale GEWE interventions at sustainable paces. Furthermore, the brief also serves a basis for the stakeholders’ engagement process through consultations in order to gain their insights and capitalize on their existing GEWE knowledge, expertise and experiences to enable formulation of most relevant and agreeable priority areas to be considered for integration in development of the next NST. Additionally, UN Women has consistently increased its working relationship with leading national media outlets, as a result, the CO's work has been covered extensively including in the Newtimes on the Status of Women in Agri-food systems: https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/9175/opinions/lets-close-the-gender-gap-in-agrifood-systems-it-will-boost-the-global-economy-by-usd-1-trillion , in African business on the Launch of the AGCCI: https://african.business/2023/07/apo-newsfeed/empowering-the-future-african-girls-can-code-officially-launched-in-rwanda , and in the in Kinyarwanda papers “Igihe” and “Kigali today” on ED’s visit to the Isange One Stop Centre https://www.kigalitoday.com/amakuru/amakuru-mu-rwanda/article/umuyobozi-wa-un-women-yasobanuriwe-imikorere-ya-isange-one-stop-center .

Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate

UN Women has continued its close partnership with existing partners and through engaging new partners. Several new partners were engaged as part of the new programmes launched in 2021, including the Covid-19 recovery programme and the 3R programme on unpaid care work. In 2021, UN Women Rwanda undertook a mid-term review of its Strategic Note 2019-2023. The review has showed not only that UN Women and its partners are well on track in reaching the targets set, but also confirmed its relevancy and support of the strategic direction outlined in the Strategic Note (SN). Through consultations with UN Women’s partners and stakeholders, including Government Institutions, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, Development Partners and UN Agencies it is evident that the SN is well aligned with what stakeholder consider as important gender issues and that the implementation strategies are well designed and should be continued and strengthened further. The surveys and meetings revealed a strong support and engagement by the stakeholders for UN Women and its mandate. Foundational studies and assessments continues to be support and commissioned by UN Women as it has proven an efficient tool, in building knowledge, informing decision-making and programme and in advocacy efforts to galvanize attention and action towards UN Women’s objectives.