UN Women Rwanda launches $6.3 million plan to boost women’s empowerment

The 2026–2029 strategy was officially launched on Feb. 5. UN Women said $3.5 million, or 55% of the projected budget, has already been secured, with efforts underway to mobilize the remaining funds through partnerships with financial institutions and the government.

UN Women Rwanda Representative Jennet Kem said the agency is working closely with banks and public institutions to address the funding gap. She cited existing agreements with the National Bank of Rwanda, Equity Bank and I&M Bank, as well as collaboration with government bodies.

“The government’s presence here shows strong support,” Kem said. “It allows us to explore how we can work together within existing capacities to continue advancing women’s development.”

Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Consolée Uwimana said the government will continue to partner with UN Women Rwanda, noting that limited global funding requires stronger domestic collaboration.

“These programs are for Rwandans,” Uwimana said. “We must work together and contribute what we can, while partners provide additional support.”

UN Women implements a wide range of programs in Rwanda, including leadership training, economic empowerment initiatives and efforts to combat gender-based violence.

Under its 2020–2025 strategy, UN Women Rwanda trained more than 85,000 people on gender-based violence. More than 35,000 survivors — including 26,570 women and 8,876 men — received direct support. The agency also helped 9,000 women access loans, trained more than 24,000 people in economic empowerment and supported 3,000 women to start small and medium-sized businesses.

UN Resident Coordinator Ozonnia Ojielo said Rwanda has made strong progress in advancing women’s rights, but stressed the need for inclusive economic growth as the country pursues its goal of becoming a lower-middle-income economy by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050.

UN Women began operating in Rwanda in 1996 as UNIFEM and was rebranded in 2010.