New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets
Related national priorities as defined in the National Strategy for Transformation 2017 - 2024 (NST1) Economic Transformation Pillar: - Priority Area 1: Create 1,500,000 decent and productive jobs for economic development. - Priority Area 3: Establish Rwanda as a Globally Competitive Knowledge-based Economy - Priority Area 5: Increase domestic savings and position Rwanda as a hub for financial services to promote investments
New opportunities are unlocked for women to benefit from Rwanda’s expanding private sector markets
UN Women reports on this indicator in a global scope, signified by "(Desk Review)" at the end of the indicator statement (see the Our Global Results page for the global result)
Common indicators are those that appear verbatim the same in at least two entities' results frameworks and are drawn, where possible, directly from other globally agreed frameworks.
CommonUN Women reports on this indicator in a global scope, signified by "(Desk Review)" at the end of the indicator statement (see the Our Global Results page for the global result)
Common indicators are those that appear verbatim the same in at least two entities' results frameworks and are drawn, where possible, directly from other globally agreed frameworks.
CommonComplementary indicators are identified as those in the results framework that are not repeated verbatim in the results framework of another United Nations entity, but are related or provide different but complementary lenses or insights into the same issue, high-level result and/or area of complementary work, such as a Sustainable Development Goal target.
ComplementaryWomen have enhanced skills and access to finance and markets to leverage business opportunities
In addition to results reported by UN Women field offices (shown here), results achieved in countries and territories through the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF) are included in a non-duplicative manner in the global reporting on this indicator (see the Our Global Results page).
In addition to results reported by UN Women field offices (shown here), results achieved in countries and territories through the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF) are included in a non-duplicative manner in the global reporting on this indicator (see the Our Global Results page).
Women’s capacity and opportunities to access remunerated off-farm employment increased
In addition to results reported by UN Women field offices (shown here), results achieved in countries and territories through the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF) are included in a non-duplicative manner in the global reporting on this indicator (see the Our Global Results page).
Corporate sector actors demonstrate increased understanding of and commitment to implement gender equality and women’s empowerment practices
In addition to results reported by UN Women field offices (shown here), results achieved in countries and territories through the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF) are included in a non-duplicative manner in the global reporting on this indicator (see the Our Global Results page).
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.Disclaimer and notes
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).