Management Response

: Rwanda
: 2014 - 2018 , Rwanda (CO)
: Final Evaluation "National Scale Up of the IOSC Model in Rwanda"
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: Rwanda
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The UN Women Rwanda Country Office has found the final evaluation of the project for the national scale up of the Isange One Stop Centre (IOSC) Model in Rwanda and its recommendations to be very relevant and useful. With the project’s end, UN Women’s official engagement with the IOSC initiative has also come to a close. However, the evaluation recommendation will inform UN Women’s advocacy and awareness raising initiatives, UN Women’s activities within the framework of other programs and the further action of key stakeholders in the ongoing IOSC initiative.
: Approved
Recommendation: The IOSC model is showing that it has the potential to be a major element in the fight against GBV and Child Abuse (CA), and as an instrument for care of GBV and CA victims. It is therefore recommended to continue with the established centres and to expand their numbers.
Management Response: This recommendation is acceptable. RNP with the support of the WB has already increased the number of IOSCs to 44. UN Women cannot take responsibility for increasing the number of IOSCs but can promote it as an effective model and support advocacy for more IOSCs.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Engage MIGEPROF and MINISANTE to lobby for the establishment of more IOSCs at all District Health Centres with WB project support. UN Women Rwanda CO/ programme team MIGEPROF, MINISANTE 2017/12 Completed Within the framework of the project, through the direct support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, 23 IOSCs were established in different Rwandan districts. Following the end of the project, through continued stakeholder engagement and funding from the World Bank, an additional 21 IOSCs have been established, bringing up to 44 the number of operational IOSCs in Rwanda.
Recommendation: For the IOSCs to be more effective in the prevention of GBV and CA it is important that more cases are brought to justice and that more perpetrators are prosecuted successfully. The system of collection of evidence needs therefore to be further improved.
Management Response: This recommendation is acceptable.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Support advocacy and awareness raising to facilitate increased accountability among citizens in reporting GBV and CA cases to IOSCs. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MINIJUST, GMO 2018/06 Completed The UN Women Rwanda CO supported targeted advocacy and awareness raising campaigns on GBV both within the framework of the program "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda" and within the framework of global campaigns, such as the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the HeforShe Campaign. These outreach activities contributed to increasing citizen's awareness of the issue of GBV and their knowledge of the mechanisms available to them to report cases of GBV. As such, on 24th November 2017, launching the 16 Days of activism against GBV campaign, hundreds walked from the Rwanda Parliament to the Remera Peace Stadium to raise awareness on the 2017 theme of the campaign ”End violence against women and girls: Speak out!”. The walk to end violence had brought together UN Women and the ONE UN officials, senior government official, development partners and members of the civil society as well as a multitude of residents of Kigali City. Following the walk in Kigali, several awareness raising activities were similarly conducted across the country, as well as on social media and TV and radio stations, urging for the need to speak out against GBV. Furthermore, UN Women Rwanda provided financial support to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) to facilitate outreach activities on the HeForShe campaign. The activities took place in February 2018 in the seven districts of Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Kirehe, Huye, Rulindo, Rubavu and Kicukiro. The objective of these activities was to increase communities' awareness on women's rights and to increase men's engagement on issues of GBV and child abus. As a result, district officials, strategic partners working in the seven districts, community members and men and boys increased their knowledge on women's rights and enhanced their commitments in addressing GBV. With more than 200,000 people who signed up for the HeforShe campaign since 2014, Rwanda is the country with the most signatories to the campaign worldwide. Importantly, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, one of the 10 HeforShe Global Impact Champions has made and regularly reports on three specific commitments, including the elimination of gender-based violence in all its forms.
Support advocacy and capacity building efforts to strengthen effective prosecution responses to GBV. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MINIJUST, GMO 2018/06 Completed UN Women Rwanda supported the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and the Rwandan Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) in the organization of review, evaluation and accountability meetings with GBV and gender stakeholders at local level in all Rwandan Districts. Amongst other topics, the meetings covered law enforcement related gaps in terms of addressing GBV and resulted in the recommendation to institutionalize periodic reviews of the implementation of stakeholders’ commitments towards addressing GBV at both central and local levels. Furthermore, within the framework of the joint program "Improving Knowledge, Enforcement and Coordination In Counter-Trafficking", UN Women collaborated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST), the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for the development of a training for (MINIJUST) personnel on the prosecution of perpetrators of trafficking in persons, including of women and girls.
Through existing programmes, support capacity building of the Rwandan National Police (RNP) and local authorities in collecting, preserving and processing evidence of GBV and CA cases. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MINIJUST, GMO 2018/06 Completed Within the framework of the joint program "Improving Knowledge, Enforcement and Coordination In Counter-Trafficking", UN Women supported the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Immigration Services’ capacity to collect and process GBV evidence through the distribution of equipment (cameras, etc.).
Under the IOM project, provide RNP with new basic equipment to support the evidence processing in GBV and CA cases. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MINIJUST, GMO 2018/06 Completed In December 2017, within the framework of the joint program "Improving Knowledge, Enforcement and Coordination in Counter-Trafficking", UN Women supported the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Immigration Services’ capacity to collect and process GBV evidence through the provision of essential equipment to 10 IOSCs, including cameras and video recorders to collect forensic evidence on GBV cases.
Recommendation: It is recommended that the coordinating function of the IOSCs is fully fledged through recruitment of IOSC Coordinator among other needed staff to link with the National Coordinator who also should be recruited or appointed.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted but to ensure sustainability, the coordination roles should be vested within the permanent staff of MINSANTE.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Advocacy
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Advocate for MINISANTE to assign permanent staff for the coordination role of IOSCs. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MINISANTE 2017/12 Completed Currently, 44 Isange One Stop Centres are operational in Rwanda and equipped with personnel to respond to GBV cases and to provide holistic high-quality support services to victims thereof. Under the current funding structure, the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) was unable to assign permanent staff to the coordination of the IOSCs. However, UN Women and UNFPA successfully secured funding to further enhance the sustainability of the IOSC model in Rwanda in 2019. Among the planned programme interventions, capacity building for IOSC staff and coordination personnel are featured.
Recommendation: More inputs are needed to increase awareness and prevention which would balance the response part that is so far given more attention in visited IOSCs.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Support key stakeholders such as IOSCs, MIGEPROF, MINIJUST, RNP, NGOs, etc. to conduct GBV awareness raising campaigns. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team and UN Women HQ. 2017/12 Completed The UN Women Rwanda CO supported targeted advocacy and awareness raising campaigns on GBV both within the framework of the program "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda" and within the framework of global campaigns, such as the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the HeforShe Campaign. These outreach activities contributed to increasing citizen's awareness of the issue of GBV. Media platforms, including radio, television, print, blogging and social media were used as channels of sensitization of Rwanda’s population on women and girls’ rights and on fighting GBV. For instance, TV and radio programmes were broadcasted in February and March 2017 in view of the celebration of the International Women’s Day and Month. These exchanges aimed to promote a progressive change of mindsets on gender equality, increased awareness of laws and policies on women’s rights and increased awareness of the country’s HeForShe commitments. To enhance the programme’s outreach, through UN Women’s support, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) extended its awareness raising activities to Rwanda’s art sector (music, cinema, theatre, etc.). In March 2017, more than 60 media practitioners and artists were trained on their role in delivering messages that promote gender equality and the prevention of GBV, thus fostering a gender responsive cultural and art sector in Rwanda.
Recommendation: Based on the job descriptions, work plans for IOSC staff are recommended, which specifies the amount of time required to work at sector or household level
Management Response: UN Women recognizes the need to define specific workplans and responsibilities including community work for IOSC staff. However, the inclusion of working hours at sector or household level therein is currently not feasible because only one GBV officer is placed in each IOSC. The recruitment of additional personnel by the Government is thus required to address this recommendation.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Engage MIGEPROF and MINISANTE to lobby for the placement of additional staff with predefined workplans and a mandate to engage with households and sectors within each IOSC. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team 2017/12 Completed Currently, 44 Isange One Stop Centres are operational in Rwanda and equipped with personnel to respond to GBV cases and to provide holistic high-quality support services to victims thereof. Under the current funding structure, the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) was unable to assign permanent staff to the coordination of the IOSCs. However, UN Women and UNFPA successfully secured funding to further enhance the sustainability of the IOSC model in Rwanda in 2019. Among the planned programme interventions, capacity building for IOSC staff and coordination personnel are featured.
Recommendation: Joint approach needs to be strengthened at local level through joint planning among concerned stakeholders and/or organs to effectively address both prevention and response to GBV and CA.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted.
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Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Strengthen coordinated planning amongst key local stakeholders in the prevention and response to GBV and CA cases through the organisation of round table discussions on these subjects, especially within the framework of community works "Umuganda" of every last Saturday of the month. These community based gatherings are attended by the majority if not all local residents and at the end of each Umuganda, key current issues as well as Government priorities are discussed. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MIGEPROF, MINIJUST 2017/12 Completed Within the framework of the Joint Programme “Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality in Rwanda”, to enhance coordination on gender equality and GBV service delivery, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), in collaboration with the National Women Council (NWC) and Rwanda National Police (RNP), organized three community dialogues on gender equality promotion and GBV prevention and response. The dialogues brought together 30,317 women and 15,166 men, including 9,800 youth. The major outcomes of the discussions include local authorities’ commitment to strengthen Umugoroba w’Ababyeyi (parent evening’s forums) as central mechanisms to combat GBV, early pregnancy, drug abuse and human trafficking. Furthermore, a high number (12,000) men and boys committed to support the HeForShe campaign as a result of these dialogues. The relevance of Umugoroba w’Ababyeyi as dialogue mechanisms was rendered evident during review and evaluation meetings organized by MIGEPROF. The parent evenings were found to constitute an important community-based mechanism of addressing GBV and other social and community issues. In the 80 sessions assessed, 67.5 percent of the participants were women as compared to 32.5 percent men. This represents a significant achievement in terms of men’s involvement compared to the two previous years, where those forums were attended only by women. 95 percent of Umugoraba w’Ababyeyi meet at least once a month and a number of issues related to family conflict, fighting GBV and child abuse, preventing school dropouts and delinquency are successfully tackled during these discussions.
Recommendation: Collaboration between MAJ and IOSCs should be clarified and uniform to more effectively tackle the issue of limited access to justice by GBV and CA victims.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Request MIGEPROF to convene a technical working group meeting with MINIJUST and MINISANTE representatives to draw up a baseline document applicable for all districts which specifies the responsibility of each party within the IOSC interventions. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team MIGEPROF, MINIJUST, MINISANTE 2017/09 Completed Within the Rwandan governance system, the national sub-cluster on GBV reunites all key stakeholders active in this area in Rwanda, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, National Prosecution Authorities, the Rwanda National Police, Rwanda Investigation Bureau and Civil Society Organizations. The division of labor and responsibilities to prevent GBV and to provide holistic high-quality services to survivors thereof are discussed and defined within this framework, during the sub-cluster’s quarterly meetings. Furthermore, the IOSC Standard Operating Procedures developed during the project provide an overview of IOSC stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities.
Recommendation: It is recommended to avoid temporary salary top-ups to motivate staff. This only works temporarily and cannot be sustained. Each IOSC needs to be assigned a budget to allow field work.
Management Response: The recommendation is accepted but may not be achievable.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category:
Thematic Area: Ending violence against women (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Engage MIGEPROF and MINISANTE to lobby for the inclusion of fixed term IOSC staff with predefined workplans and mandates within their respective annual budgets. UN Women Rwanda CO/programme team 2017/12 Completed Currently, 44 Isange One Stop Centres are operational in Rwanda and equipped with personnel to respond to GBV cases and to provide holistic high-quality support services to victims thereof. Under the current funding structure, the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) was unable to assign permanent staff to the coordination of the IOSCs. However, UN Women and UNFPA successfully secured funding to further enhance the sustainability of the IOSC model in Rwanda in 2019. Among the planned programme interventions, capacity building for IOSC staff and coordination personnel are featured.