Management Response

: Rwanda
: 2014 - 2018 , Rwanda (CO)
: Final Evaluation of the Joint Programme "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda"
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Rwanda

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UN Women Rwanda agrees in general with the lessons identified and recommendations proposed in the final evaluation of the Joint Programme "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda". Evaluation recommendations have been taken into account within the framework of the new UN Women Rwanda Country Office Strategic Note (2019-2023) as well as within the new Joint Programme proposal developed with the National Gender Machinery (NGM). If funded, this Joint Programme will be a successor framework to the "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains" programme. Furthermore, evaluation recommendations are addressed within the One UN Joint Work Plans under the development results on transformational governance and social transformation, as well as within NGM partner institutions’ strategic and work plans.

: Approved
Recommendation: Recommendation 1.1 National Gender Machinery (NGM) institutions to develop modalities of maintaining and sustaining the achievements realized, attracting and retaining specialists in gender responsive planning, communication and Monitoring & Evaluation
Management Response: UN Women Rwanda and programme Implementing Partners accept the recommendation. The comprehensive implementation thereof requires securing sufficient resources for the new Joint Programme on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. The status of the proposed activities will therefore also be updated in function of the progress made on Resource Mobilization.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: National ownership
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Pooling of resources under one Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) to support salaries of project staff and ensure their funding is strategically secure and institutionalized MIGEPROF 2023/06 Completed Through the new gender Joint programme 2019-2023 which is led by UN Women, the programme provides for institutional strengthening through technical assistance and staffing for the National Gender Machinery institutions. However, with the resources yet being scarce for a full roll-out of the projected results areas, the Joint Programme Steering Committee held in June 2020 recommended a resizing of the Joint Programme to adjust to emerging priorities and respond to resource mobilization constraints. The JP gender Steering Committee held in December 2020 approved the additional staffing proposal made as part of the resizing of the JP. The National Gender Machinery institutions will have 5 staff in total based in their institutions to follow up on the implementation of the JP with the oversight role from UN Women based Programme manager.
Recommendation: Recommendation 1.2 Target capacity building of civil society organizations, private sector and institutions of higher learning, e.g. universities, on gender mainstreaming, gender responsive research and policy analysis
Management Response: The management responses under this recommendation can only be consistently applied if the new Gender Joint Programme is sufficiently funded. However, effective resource mobilization efforts are underway within the One UN through the Resident Coordinator Office managed Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and the National Implementing Partners.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Capacity enhancement of government planners and budget officers including those from institutions of higher learning, CSOs and Private Sector in Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Gender Responsive Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) in collaboration with UN Women 2023/06 Completed GEPMI modules have been updated in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN). Based on the revised modules, a training is planned to be held before end of 2020 with National Government Planners. UN Women is facilitating the contracting of a certified trainer to lead the preparatory and delivery of the training through the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF). UN women Rwanda country Office has also continued to work with partners among Government institutions and Civil Society Organizations to conduct assessments and research studies on the implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) among central and local government institutions and thus providing evidence of further gaps that need to be addressed. In 2020, UN Women Rwanda have collaborated with MIGEPROF and provided technical and financial support to strengthen capacities in Gender Economic Policy Management (GEPMI). Through a five-day training, aimed to equip Directors of Agriculture in districts with the necessary skills in effective gender analysis and mainstreaming skills to support and advocate for the implementation of gender responsive government development policies and programs. 30 directors from all 30 districts of Rwanda as well as six staff (from central level, including three ministries) participated in the trainings. A second training will be held in 2021, targeting district Gender Officers. Additionally, the Government of Rwanda through the MINECOFIN and MIGEPROF, have recently approved the decision to reinstate a national GRB steering committee in order to further enhance Gender Responsive Budgeting across all budget agencies.
2. Conduct gender audit and gender seal in the private sector and provide technical support to ensure that technical skills are available for the implementation of recommendations Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) 2023/06 Completed After a successful launch of HeForShe in Private Sector and the commitments from prominent CEOs , the UNDP built from the momentum instilled by UN Women and launched a gender seal certification process in private which also include extensive capacity building initiatives on gender equality at work place and the implications of gender responsive private sector.
3. Review of GEPMI modules to ensure that they are contextualised and aligned to national needs and planning frameworks Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), University of Rwanda and UN Women 2019/06 Completed GEPMI Modules were developed in 2012 but they need to be updated based on the most recent data and align to the new national development framework which is the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) and the SDGs internationally.
4. Train newly elected Parliamentarians on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and the Gender Responsive Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) 2019/03 Completed Due to limited budget, there was a need to prioritize between two trainings; Transformational Leadership and GRB. In consultation with FFRP, the recommendation was to start by transformational leadership and to postpone GRB, in order to be able draw on the outcome of the training and await budget. Through the financial and technical support of UN Women, Rwanda Women Parliamentarian Forum (FFRP) organized an executive training held on the 23-24th of December 2019. 44 female parliamentarians out of 66 targeted Members of the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) undertook the transformational leadership journey through a two-day training. Their own testimony and initiated bills at parliament show a significant change towards gender equality in exercising leadership roles or applying gender lenses in their legislative roles. Capacity building of those working in the GEWE accountability enforcement mechanisms and institutions remain a priority for capacity developments for UN Women's entire implementation period of the current SN/AWP.
Recommendation: Recommendation 2.1 Develop practical and innovative strategies to increase public awareness of gender equality and women’s empowerment policies, strategies and programmes, with a special focus on the districts.
Management Response: The UN Women Rwanda Office and Implementing Partners fully accept the recommendation and the implementation of the management responses has already been initiated through a Knowledge Management plan and the gender equality national accountability framework, including but not limited to Open Days and gender equality and women's empowerment accountability day/week.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Youth engagement, Engaging men and boys
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Development of a simplified booklet on gender sensitive laws in both Kinyarwanda (local language) and English. Rwanda Women’s Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) 2018/09 Completed The booklet presents a compilation of different gender sensitive laws to be disseminated to the wider public for reference and use.
2. Organize awareness raising campaigns on existing gender sensitive laws, policies, strategies and programmes National Gender Machinery (NGM) with support of UN Women 2022/12 Completed Following the production of a compendium of gender sensitive laws, the National Gender Machinery (NGM) with support from the One UN conducted an extensive awareness raising campaign to enhance legal literacy of the general public on gender equality through outreach campaign, radio and TV messages etc. Under the Rural Women's Economic Empowerment (JP-RWEE) Joint Programme since 2014, UN Women Rwanda Country Office has contributed to raising awareness among rural women on their land rights and trained them and stakeholders on land law. Under the AWP 2021, UN Women is packaging all those laws and good practices, case studies into a booklet which will also be translated to fit the local content context in Kinyarwanda for increased usability. Additionally, under the Equality at Law initiative UN Women partnered with Legal Aid Forum (LAF) in Rwanda to conduct a comprehensive Legal Analysis of Gender Compliance in Rwandan Laws in order to evaluate the current status of compliance with gender standards. The analysis provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the status of gender compliance in Rwanda by reviewing laws in force to identify those that may discriminate explicitly (de jure) or implicitly (de facto) on the basis of gender. The dialogue around the findings of the assessment is also inscribed within the perspective of legal literacy.
3. Organise an open day on gender equality and women’s empowerment National Gender Machinery (NGM) with support of UN Women 2018/10 Completed The open day was held successfully. The open day was an opportunity to showcase the existing legal and policy framework on gender equality as well as the innovative solutions applied in Rwanda in order to advance gender equality and women's empowerment with reference to the recently ended UN Women led Joint Programme "Advancing and Sustaining gender Equality Gains in Rwanda".
4. Organise regular gender accountability days in different districts of Rwanda Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and UN Women 2018/11 Completed Accountability weeks have been organized in accordance to plan, in Ngororero and Nyaruguru Districts with heads of villages and local authorities and a handbook on GBV prevention and response was developed and disseminated to heads of villages as a guidance tool in the GBV prevention and response endeavor. Accountability days will occur on annual basis and so far, there has been consistency in the organization of accountability days. The new JP will continue implementing and follow up on the Accountability days.
Recommendation: Recommendation 2.2. Developing a strategy and work plan to effectively implement various policies, strategies and Gender Responsive Budgeting initiatives that have been developed within the framework of the Joint Programme
Management Response: UN Women Rwanda and Implementing Partners fully agree with the recommendation, especially since the Joint Programme that has ended had supported the formulation of gender mainstreaming strategies for some sectors that need to be effectively implemented.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Urban agenda (safe cities and safe public spaces)
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Mobilize funds to develop a comprehensive GRB programme National Gender Machinery (NGM), Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), UN Women 2020/06 No Longer Applicable Covid-19 crisis and subsequent reprogramming of funds may not allow us to develop a comprehensive Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) programme but now more than ever, it is important to apply the GRB skills and capacity built up to analyse the economic stimulus packages and new budget allocations in the recovery phase where health and social protection are taking precedence together with economic recovery initiatives. The country update of Gender-responsive budgeting, led by Minecofin, FFRP and GMO, does not necessitate a stand-alone GRB programme. Instead, a different approach is taken to mainstreaming GRB in all our work.
2. Ensure a systematic monitoring of the implementation of various gender mainstreaming strategies produced per specific sectors National Gender Machinery (NGM) and other line Ministries 2023/06 Completed The 2020 and 2021 Annual Work Plans provides policy support to the Government Ministries of Agriculture, Youth and Sports to implement their newly produced sectoral gender mainstreaming strategies
Recommendation: Recommendation 2.3 Identify relevant partners to work with in implementing the policies and strategies and monitoring accountability at national and district level and in all sectors.
Management Response: UN Women Rwanda Country Office is committed to enhancing partnership with CSOs that have greater outreach at grassroot level to drive the social and cultural norms change for gender equality. CSOs are also expected to be instrumental in fostering universal access to justice for victims of GBV. This is an inclusive part of the new Strategic Note (2019-2023) priorities and the country office has undertaken the capacity assessment with some of the potential partners, including local and international NGOs operating in Rwanda as well as CSOs that have a strong footprint on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Governance and planning (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Identify key partners for the new joint programme proposal on gender equality and women's empowerment that include CSOs, private sector, government institutions including the City of Kigali as well as UN Agencies National Gender Machinery and UN Women 2019/03 Completed Proposal for new joint programme on gender completed- programme approved by PAC for 2018-2023. Resources partially mobilized through Swiss Development Cooperation and SIDA. Programme implementation underway.
2. Explore other potential partnerships with key stakeholders National Gender Machinery (NGM) and UN Women 2019/06 Completed Satisfactory capacity assessments were conducted for new potential partners from civil society. CSOs partners that have strong grassroots level representation and operations are expected to be instrumental in ensuring that accountability on gender equality at local level is fully achieved.
Recommendation: Recommendation 3.1 Identify strategic interventions under programmes such as "HeforShe” and the Men Engage initiatives and support interventions that address the root causes of gender inequality and patriarchy.
Management Response: Addressing root causes of gender inequalities by addressing social and cultural norms that exacerbate gender inequalities is one of the priorities for the UN Women Rwanda Country Office throughout the new SN duration 2019-2023. The office is of the same view that tapping into the Rwanda’s momentum on HeForShe would add value to such interventions.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Engaging men and boys
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Address social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequalities with special focus at community level and in schools Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and UN WOMEN 2023/12 Completed To address the issue of social and cultural norms, UN Women is working with an umbrella organisation of Religious leaders for sensitisation and capacity enhancement on GBV Prevention and response and supported the development of a handbook to harmonise key messages in sensitizing community members. In addition, awareness-raising and capacity enhancement was conducted at different prisons in Rwanda including centres hosting genocide perpetrators during the final phases of their sentences to sensitizing them before reintegrating in their communities. A pool of trainers is set at Rwanda Correctional Service to continue the awareness raising and mindset change process. Furthermore, UN Women is also working with men engage resource centre (RWAMREC) for engaging men as partners of gender equality and steer the mindset change process at the community level. UN Women are tackling negative social and cultural norms through regular Gender Cafes, which provides a platform to discuss gender equality and positive masculinities. Between 10-12 November 2020, the MenEngage Ubuntu Symposium took place in Kigali and was co-organised by UN Women and the MenEngage Alliance together with Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), the Rwanda MenEngage Network (RWAMNET), and MenEngage Africa. The symposium was an opportunity and a space for listening, critical reflection, and commitment to action across work to transform masculinities and engage men and boys for gender equality and social justice in communities. Due to Covid-19, virtual participation was organised allowing participants to join from all over the world.
2. Advocacy and capacity enhancement for an increased number of women and girls embracing Science, Technology, Engineering and Match (STEM) within their education and related career paths after school completion Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) 2022/06 Completed The Ministry of Gender and Family promotion (MIGEPROF) is leading the HeForShe campaign in the Country and part of the central triple commitments made by HE Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, as Global Impact Champion for HeForShe is to bridge the digital divide and triple the number of girls in Technical Vocational Education Trainings (TVETs). The next campaign to be taken to Universities and Institutions of Higher learning will be centred around STEM. The CO also recruited a Digital and Gender Expert based at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) to finalize and implement interventions under the women empowerment through technology (WEM-TECH) strategy; Map and create collaboration platforms for MIGEPROF and the WEM-TECH stakeholders; as well coordinate existing programs and initiatives on women empowerment in technology in Rwanda.
Recommendation: Recommendation 3.2 Intensify advocacy, education, and communication by working with media houses, cultural groups and local leaders to address the root causes of gender inequality and changing mind-sets.
Management Response: UN Women agrees with this recommendation and intends to engage “Intego izirikana” which is a government formed proxy of traditional leaders in order to address cultural practices favouring patriarchal societies and harmful practices /gender based violence. Similarly, the media through the Rwanda media commission are expected to play a fundamental role to propagate gender equality messages. The Step It Up media campaign will be launched and leveraged in this regard.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Engage the Rwandan Association of Elders ‘’Inteko Izirikana’’ with the aim to address culturally rooted discrimination that encourages gender inequalities Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) and UN WOMEN 2019/06 Completed MINISPOC has been supported to develop a gender strategy. The new office strategic plan for 2018-2023 identifies social norms and gender stereotypes as an area of focus. The work with the Association of Elders will continue in this regards.
2. Launch of Step It Up Media Compact Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), National Women Council (NWC) 2021/03 No Longer Applicable The planned launch of Step it up Media Compact was delayed several times due to COVID-19. Instead, UN Women Rwanda will continue its engagement and partnership with the media sector, including trainings in gender-responsive reporting
Recommendation: Recommendation 3.3 Document and disseminate good examples of gender mainstreaming at district and community level, and use the same as platforms for taking the campaign on addressing negative cultural norms and practices, myths and attitudes that promote gender inequality and discrimination against women national-wide.
Management Response: The UN Women Rwanda Country Office accepts the recommendation and the implementation of the office's communication and advocacy strategy will be a corner stone towards achievement of the recommendation.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Organize exchange visits among Districts to learn from one another on the progress made on leadership and gender responsive budgeting and planning as part of accountability campaigns. Knowledge products will also be produced from the visits and disseminated for emulation of the good practices Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) 2021/12 Completed Knowledge products mainly from GRB implementation and GBS reviews, assessments and research studies done by public institutions such as the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and Civil Society Organizations (e.g. Civil Society Platform, Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe) have been disseminated and discuss with relevant institutions and assessed Districts. More reviews and dialogues are also planned in 2021 as part of enhancing accountability on gender equality. In December 2020, 30 Directors for Agriculture from all 30 districts of Rwanda came together to participate in a training organised by MIGERPOF through UN Women support. The training aimed to exchange experience and equip Directors of Agriculture in districts with the necessary skills in effective gender analysis and mainstreaming skills to support and advocate for the implementation of gender responsive government development policies and programs.
2. Document and disseminate the success stories from the implementation of activity 3.1.1 (Address social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequalities with special focus at Community level and in schools) National Gender Machinery (NGM) with technical and financial support from UN Women 2022/12 Completed In collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, a study on knowledge, attitude and practices on perceived GBV root causes and the Isange One Stop Centre service delivery was commissioned for the purpose of unearthing the root causes of GBV as well as assessing the quality of service delivery by IOSC in the Rwandan context. The study also aimed at identifying social and culture norms that continue to perpetrate gender inequalities and GBV. The findings are being shared with different stakeholders at community levels for increased awareness raising to address the key issues that the study revealed
Recommendation: Recommendation 4.1 Building on the lessons learned from the Joint Programme, a new Joint Programme on gender equality and women´s empowerment should be developed in participatory/consultative manner, and various funding modalities and sources agreed upon to support such a programme.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted and the formulation of the new Strategic Note 2019-2023 and the new Gender Joint Programme has involved extensive consultations and strategic prioritization within and outside the UN, Government and non-government partners.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Develop a new joint programme on Sustaining Gender Equality in the National Strategy for Transformation Agenda 2018-2023) National Gender Machinery in collaboration with One UN, including UN Women as lead agency 2018/10 Completed A new programme proposal has been developed and resource mobilization is underway for the new Joint Programme on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
2. Use the lessons learned from the past Joint Programme to inform new UN Women Strategic Note 2019-2023 UN Women 2018/09 Completed Among other elements, the UN Women Country Office integrated the lessons learned from the implementation of the Joint Programme "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains" within the new Country Office Strategic Note 2019 - 2023. The Strategic Note was also informed by other programme and UNDAP evaluations, stakeholder consultations and reports and research on the status of gender equality and women's empowerment in Rwanda.
Recommendation: Recommendation 5.1 Based on lesson learned from economic empowerment (start-up and giving out cows), consider expanding the economic empowerment interventions after a comprehensive assessment of the outcome of the Joint Programme interventions.
Management Response: Economic Empowerment constitutes a priority area within the new UN Women Rwanda Country Office Strategic Note 2019-2023. Additionally, the Rural Women Economic Empowerment Joint Programme (JP-RWEE) jointly implemented with Rome based agencies is expected to complement the gains that the Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains Joint Programme has achieved. The country office is also planning to strengthen community based Voluntary Savings and Loans Schemes (VSLs) in partnership with experienced Implementing Partners.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Reinforce women's economic empowerment in UN Women Rwanda's next programming cycle with the new Strategic Note 2019-2023 by adding new partners who are succeeding with innovative approaches to promote Women’s Economic Empowerment, especially of the most vulnerable. UN Women 2023/06 Completed The Strategic Note 2019-2023 takes Women's Economic Empowerment as a high priority through enhanced entrepreneurship skills, financial capital for women and by doing so, the Country Office ensures that no woman is left behind. The "Accelerating Progress towards Women's Economic Empowerment "JP-RWEE Joint Programme remains the main driver of this impact area by reaching out to rural women who wouldn't be served if otherwise. Furthermore, in partnership with the Union of Women Living with Disability (UNABU) UN Women Rwanda country office targets women with disability in order to come up with targeted and mainstreamed economic empowerment support which suits their status.
Recommendation: Recommendation 5.2 Focus more resources and action towards vulnerable teenage mothers and working with local government structures and NGOs in selected poor districts to support them economically.
Management Response: Within the framework of the Joint Programme “Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda”, UN Women had provided seed funding a national umbrella Civil Society Organization to socially and economically support teen mothers. The seed funding revealed to be impactful and corresponding interventions are expected to be scaled up throughout the duration of the new strategic note and the new Gender Joint Programme.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Support teenage mothers to uplift their livelihood security and reintegrate them into education system including Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and Civil Society Organizations 2022/12 Completed In collaboration with Imbuto Foundation, under the office of the first Lady of Rwanda and through financial support from SDC, UN Women has provided support to over 400 teen mothers including comprehensive reintegration package including psychosocial counselling, parents-adolescent communication for family conflict resolution and income generating activities and TVET for reinforcing their socio-economic reintegration. Additionally, 260 teen mothers from Eastern Province were supported with professional psychosocial counselling to manage mental health, increase their self-confidence and reveal the perpetrators.
2. Leverage from inter-agency partnership and joint programming to address the needs of teenage mothers UN Women, UNFPA and UNICEF 2022/12 Completed The three agencies including UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP have included within their programmes and Joint Work Plans (JWP) interventions that speak to the response to teenage pregnancies and teenager mothers. As an example, the joint programme together with UNDP on the reintegration of ex-combatants and dependents, funded by PBF, is also targeting teen mothers as part of the beneficiaries.
Recommendation: Recommendation 5.3 Forge stronger ties with entities such as the Business Development Fund (BDF), Private Sector Federation (PSF) to enhance efforts to provide more effective outcomes for women economic empowerment.
Management Response: Implementation of the recommendation is initiated, building on and leveraging existing partnership with the Business Development Fund (BDF) and the National Women Council (NWC).
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Strengthen women’s financial inclusion to increase the proportion of their uptake of loans and the amounts received by women as bank loans National Gender Machinery (NGM) in collaboration with UN Women 2023/06 Completed The UN Women Country Office Strategic Note 2019-2023 Theory of Change proposes strategic partnerships to enhance financial inclusion for women and promote business investments for women, including for those living in rural areas. Through partnership New Faces New Voice Rwanda Chapter, the country office is contributing to the growing uptake of women's entrepreneurship through financial inclusion and promoting financial investments opportunities for women. UN women also supports the assessments and dialogue from flagship national report-FinScope gauging the progress towards financial inclusion in Rwanda.
2. Continue advocacy to extend the scope of Business Development Fund (BDF) reporting on agreed, gender responsive indicators National Gender Machinery (NGM) and UN Women 2019/12 Completed An indicator framework was developed in partnership with the National Women Council (NWC) and the Business Development Fund (BDF) with the support of UN Women. The indicator matrix will serve to report on the gender responsiveness of service delivery for women access to finance and economic empowerment.
Recommendation: Recommendation 6.1 Support to the catalytic initiatives with CSOs and the Private Sector (such as mentorship for in and out of school girls, enhancing women’s financial inclusion through New Faces New Voices) that were implemented under the Bridge Plan should be extended and given sufficient funding and technical support for at least 2 years.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted, with its implementation being contingent upon the availability of resources.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Introduce innovative approaches to youth (girls) mentorship building on the "Because I am a girl Campaign’’. National Gender Machinery (NGM) in collaboration with UN Women 2023/06 Completed In March 2019, during International Women’s Day celebrations, UN Women Rwanda launched its first “Girls Take Over” Initiative, a job shadowing experience offered to a diverse cohort of 25 young women. For half a day, on the 20th of March, these young women were allowed to take over Embassies, UN Agencies, leading companies such as the national carrier, Rwandair, and the newly opened car assembling plant of Volkswagen, banks and the first female neurosurgeon of the country. As they were shadowing leaders they had been looking up to, in the sector they want to work in, these young women were empowered to pursue their dreams and were reassured that these dreams are valid and can be realized. During the day, the young women learned, enquired, and participated in the daily activities of their host institutions. The experience was an occasion for the hosts to share and receive useful insights and perspectives on their work and was concluded by a debriefing session that had both the mentors and mentees express the impact that this experience left on them. The positive outcome of the initiative pledged for the strengthening of mentorship and career guidance to young women as a key avenue to bridging gender economic gaps that remain the widest today. This initiative was planned for 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recommendation: Recommendation 6.2 National Gender Machinery and identified CSO and INGOs to work in partnership in developing a comprehensive programme to address emerging national issues like teenage pregnancies, youth and social/cultural issues and relationships.
Management Response: The recommendation, while accepted, has been found to overlap with previous ones (notably 3.2, 5.2 and 6.1). Similarly, the proposed actions are similar to the ones proposed under the mentioned recommendations.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Expand the partnership with CSOs and INGOs in Rwanda for more outreach to the grassroot and community level UN Women 2023/06 Completed The UN Women Rwanda Strategic Note 2019-2023 emphasizes the targeted strengthening of UN Women's collaboration with Civil Society Organizations. For example, under DRF2 (Women’s Economic Empowerment) and DRF3 (Ending Violence Against Women), UN Women have strengthened the collaboration and strategic engagement with Civil Society Organizations to address negative social norms that constitute a barrier towards the achievement of gender equality, in economic empowerment women and to end violence against women and girls. Furthermore, UN Women Rwanda will continue working with the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) and organize consultative meetings as part of the SN mid-term review in 2020 and to continuously seek dialogue on emerging GEWE priorities, challenges and solutions. For onboarding of new partners needed to implement the Annual Work Plan, capacity assessments and risk analysis remain a country office priority.
2. Capacity strengthening of the national gender and family cluster formed under the ending Joint programme ‘’Advancing and Sustaining gender Equality Gains in Rwanda’’ in order to create synergy and stronger partnership between the National Gender Machinery and all actors operating on GEWE in the country. Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) 2023/06 Completed The successor of the Joint Programme supporting the National Gender Machinery, namely “Leveraging the Full Potential of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment to achieve Rwanda's Transformation” led by UN Women with the participation of UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and UNHCR provides both technical and financial support to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) to effectively deliver on the coordination mandate of all stakeholders and programmes on GEWE through the National Gender and Family Cluster. As part of this, UN Women has availed technical expertise through secondment to provide strategic advisory in daily operations and on the coordination of the National Gender and Family Cluster. The Joint Programme on Gender is currently undergoing a resizing as per the guidance of the Steering committee. As part the resizing, the capacity strengthening of the National Gender and Family Cluster remain a key priority and the resizing is proposing full time staff for the Gender Cluster Secretariat (a Coordinator providing strategic orientation and a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer). The Steering committee will review and approve the resizing in December 2020.
Recommendation: Recommendation 7.1 Develop and agree on national, district and sectors Joint Programme M&E framework and build capacities to effectively operationalize and use the framework at national and district level within the programme.
Management Response: The District Development Strategies (DDSs), the development of which was supported by UN Women for an enhanced integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment aspect therein, as well as the Gender Management Information System (GMIS), can be leveraged by UN Women and partners to monitor the implementation of gender equality commitments at national and district level.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Strengthen the capacity of the National Gender and Family Cluster that was revived under the ending Joint Programme ‘’Advancing and Sustaining gender Equality Gains in Rwanda’’ in order to create synergy and stronger partnerships between the National Gender Machinery and key stakeholders working on gender equality and women's empowerment in Rwanda. Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and UN Women 2021/06 Completed The National Gender and Family Cluster as a technical oversight and coordination structure has among other responsibilities the setting up of a harmonious monitoring and evaluation system to track progress on gender equality at all levels of governance in Rwanda. The One UN Joint Programme on gender equality and women's empowerment in Rwanda supports the development and implementation of such a system.
2. Support the roll-out of the Gender Management Information System (GMIS) at district level Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) 2020/06 Completed The Gender Management Information System (GMIS) set up under the UN Women led Joint programme "Advancing and Sustaining gender Equality gains in Rwanda" will be rolled out beyond the current national and centralised aspects to also capture the progress reported from districts. Local Government entities will be using the platform not only to report on progress achieved in terms of advancing gender equality in Rwanda, but also for evidence-based planning and decision making. The roll out of the system was delayed on a district level due to Covid-19 but UN Women has contracted a IT developer company (Hexacomb) for the upgrade and capacity building of users and the GMIS is now fully upgraded to ease its usability with an increased number of users trained including those working at local government levels.
Recommendation: Recommendation 7.2 Facilitating and supporting development of knowledge management strategies at national, district and sector level, researching, documenting, analyzing and utilizing evidence for decision making and programming.
Management Response: The UN Women Rwanda Country Office and Programme Implementing Partners accept the recommendation and propose to commission the formulation of Knowledge Management Strategy(ies) for the National Gender Machinery institutions and few decentralized entities/Districts.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1. Develop and implement a Knowledge Management Strategy for the National Gender Machinery (NGM) in Rwanda National Gender Machinery Institutions, with the lead of the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and the support of UN Women 2020/12 Completed The development of a Knowledge Management Strategy for the National Gender Machinery remains guided by the national guidance led by responsible Government institution. UN Women Rwanda country office provides support to the development and availability of knowledge products and their dissemination. As part of this, UN Women support the data collection and gender analysis through the secondment of a gender advisor at the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) to support the availability of evidence-based products.