Management Response

: Rwanda
: 2024 - 2024 , Rwanda (CO)
: Rwanda Country Portfolio Evaluation 2019-24
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: Rwanda
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UN Women Rwanda County Office fully accepts the recommendations of the country portfolio evaluation of the Strategic Note 2019-2024. The participatory evaluation, which assessed the office's contributions to the implementation of the national strategy for transformation 20219-2024 and the UNSDCF 2019-2024, provides insights on key lessons to inform future programming, advocacy, partnerships both by the Country Office, partners and GEWE stakeholders. The evaluation provided forward-looking recommendations, which informed the development of the Strategic Note 2025-2029 and will guide future strategic decisions to enhance delivery on GEWE commitments by the Government of Rwanda and other stakeholders.

: Approved
Recommendation: Develop longer-term, more strategic partnerships aligned to the new Strategic Note objectives and time frame.
Management Response: Management acknowledges the importance of cultivating longer-term, strategic partnerships in alignment with the objectives of the new Strategic Note. As part of its implementation, the Rwanda CO will prioritize identifying strategic partners that enable the delivery of high-value programs, while also shifting away from short-term projects with temporary staff by securing qualified personnel on longer-term contracts, strengthening RBM and M&E training, and prioritizing fewer but more strategic, long-term initiatives.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018), Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018), Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Alignment with strategy, Capacity development, National ownership
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Impact
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of potential partners, including government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and multilateral institutions, to identify synergies with the Strategic Note. Program Management Specialist/Head of Programmes 2029/12 Initiated
Develop an engagement strategy to establish relationships with selected stakeholders, emphasizing shared goals and long-term collaboration. Program Management Specialist/Head of Programmes 2029/12 Not Initiated
Support partners in capacity strengthening to enhance their ability to deliver on shared objectives. Program Management Specialist/Head of Programmes 2029/12 Initiated
Establish monitoring and learning mechanisms to regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of strategic partnerships, incorporating lessons learned to refine partnership approaches over time. Program Management Specialist/Head of Programmes 2029/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Maximize comparative advantage by scaling up the Country Office’s convening role around gender equality and women’s empowerment issues and coordination of stakeholders advance gender responsive norms and policies at all levels.
Management Response: Management recognises the need to strengthen its coordination role as a composite UN Women mandate as a key convenor and mobiliser in Rwanda in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment that is reaffirmed by the decision of the CO to adopt a stand alone outcome on coordination and gender data to reduce duplication, promote collaboration, and optimize resources within the UN system and among key GEWE stakeholders. It will continue coordinating the Gender Theme Group (GTG) and Development Partners Informal Gender Group for joint advocacy and programming, engage civil society through CSAG, and support the private sector in mainstreaming GEWE. In so doing, the CO will bring stakeholders together, and drive the adoption and implementation of gender-responsive policies and practices leveraging on their expertise, capacities, and advocacy related contributions. The CO will also enhance its role as knowledge broker building on evidence and lessons generated from assessments and evaluations conducted during the implementation of the last SN and other cutting edge knowledge products as an essential strategy for nurturing and sustaining partnership for GEWE.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018), Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind, Alignment with strategy, Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Impact, Human Rights, Gender equality, Sustainability, Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Develop and implement a CO coordination strategy to enhance its role as a key convenor, engaging governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to drive coordinated action on gender equality and women’s empowerment. National Program Management Specialist 2027/01 Not Initiated
Strengthen and support national multi-stakeholder platforms including the Development Partners Gender Group, the National Gender and Family Cluster and others to fostering cross-sector collaboration. National Program Management Specialist 2027/01 Initiated
Conduct evidence based advocacy for establishment and strengthening of multi-sectoral partnerships towards the effective integration of GEWE priorities in UN Joint Programs, National Sector specific plans and other joint initiatives on gender equality and influencing decisions on resources for gender-focused initiatives. National Program Management Specialist 2027/01 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Build on the strong capabilities of the Country Office team and systems by further strengthening resource mobilization and the office’s management structure; and review the strategies and systems in place for enhanced knowledge management, learning and the human resources function.
Management Response: Management is committed to enhancing the Country Office’s effectiveness by strengthening resource mobilization, optimizing management structures, and improving key systems in line with its partnership, communication and visibility plan which will accompany the CO SN 2025-2029. By strategically leveraging its convening power, the Country Office will actively engage a mix of financial and non-financial partners across government, international organizations, and the private sector to secure funding and strategic alliances for GEWE initiatives. The CO will advocate stronger partnerships within the Government, DPs and UNCT platforms for stronger integration of UN Women’s priorities into pooled funds like the MPTF, Basket Funds, and sector-based joint programmes. Partnerships with the private sector will be leveraged to secure greater financing for GEWE, supported by data from academia and the collective voices of youth and CSOs demanding accountability for GEWE. Management is fully committed to strengthening the CO's partnership capacity including through dedicated learning sessions as well as the creation of dedicated role and beefing up its communication functions to ensure that partnership related priorities are carried out systematically and effectively for sustainable results.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind, Knowledge management, Internal coordination and communication, Resource mobilization
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities, Partnership, Organizational efficiency
UNEG Criteria: Relevance, Efficiency, Sustainability, Gender equality, Impact
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Foster and promote a culture of continuous learning by enhancing knowledge sharing mechanisms and creating platforms for staff development and collaboration. Country Representative (supported by Operations Manager) 2029/12 Initiated
Implement capacity development plans, improve staff engagement and retention strategies. Country Representative (supported by Operations Manager) 2029/12 Not Initiated
Expand strategic partnerships, diversify funding sources, and ensure the effective allocation of resources across priority programs to scale impact and meet strategic objectives. Country Representative (supported by Operations Manager) 2029/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Strengthen the relevance and sustainability of the Country Office’s work by consolidating and focusing on targeted areas of work, moving away from short and scattered projects. These areas should build on UN Women’s comparative advantage (integrated triple mandate), and lead to tangible impacts on the lives of women and girls.
Management Response: The CO will prioritize high level upstream interventions leveraging on partnerships including through advocacy for gender responsive budgeting and multi-sectoral partnerships that principally foster robust engagement of GEWE advocates, women-led CSOs, men and boys, among others. It will continue leverage UN Women's internal expertise and contributions of strategic partners such as academic and research institutions to build and strengthen national data collection and use to inform policies and scalable programs. The CO will also provide capacity development support to the Government of Rwanda and other key stakeholders as a key offer to strengthen an institutionalized approach to enhancing accountability for results. Additionally, it will support the documentation of best practices and lessons learned to promote knowledge sharing and inform evidence-based policymaking and programming. In doing so, the CO will leverage its triple mandate to drive the implementation of the UN Women Strategic Note and gender equality accelerators to ensuring a transformative impacts at scale.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018), Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind, National ownership, Capacity development, Alignment with strategy, Resource mobilization
Organizational Priorities: Urban agenda (safe cities and safe public spaces), Climate change, Agriculture, Youth engagement, Engaging men and boys, Partnership, Normative Support, Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Impact, Gender equality, Sustainability, Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Consolidate efforts in key priority areas by Identifying and focusing on high-priority, targeted areas that align with UN Women’s integrated triple mandate, moving away from short-term, scattered projects to create lasting impacts on the lives of women and girls. Country Representative (Supported by Program Management Specialist/Head of Programs) 2029/12 Initiated
Strengthen strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including government, civil society, and the private sector, to support focused initiatives and enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the Country Office's work. Country Representative (Supported by Program Management Specialist/Head of Programs) 2029/12 Initiated
Promote national ownership to ensure that targeted initiatives are aligned with national priorities and foster local ownership by actively involving local stakeholders in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs. Country Representative (Supported by Program Management Specialist/Head of Programs) 2029/12 Initiated
Strengthen systems for capturing and sharing best practices and lessons learned to enhance knowledge management, continuously improve programming and inform future interventions, ensuring continuous learning across all initiatives. Country Representative (Supported by Program Management Specialist/Head of Programs) 2029/12 Not Initiated
Strengthen Country Office resource mobilization through implementation of the CO partnership, communication and visibility plan and the development of an action oriented resource mobilization plan, secure funding for targeted initiatives and ensuring resources are directed toward high-impact areas that contribute to sustainable gender equality outcomes. Country Representative (Supported by Program Management Specialist/Head of Programs) 2029/12 Initiated