The Gender Monitoring Office has on Monday April 25, 2022 received a delegation from Zimbabwe in study visit to Rwanda to learn from Rwanda's experience on approaches of monitoring and evaluation of Gender Equality from the grassroots to national levels, and Rwanda's experience in institutionalizing accountability to gender equality in all sectors and at all levels.

The visit was organized by Women's Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) in partnership with the Women and Law in Southern Africa and the Gender Commission of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

As highlighted during the discussions, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Rwanda is built on the liberation ideology of inclusiveness and non-discrimination. The development of a gender responsive Constitution set the stage for a continuous transformation of the country's gender equality ecosystem.

The laws and policies have been consistently revised, new policies established and innovative mechanisms put in place to ensure a sustained and transformational change where men and women in Rwanda enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

"In Rwanda, Gender Equality was set as fundamental principal of good governance, democracy and human rights" said the Chief Gender Monitor, Rose Rwabuhihi.

After the gender accountability took root in government structures mostly through Gender Responsive Budgeting programme initiated in 2003, a gender accountability mechanism was initiated in the private sector, which is currently making great impact since the private sector employs more than 90% of the total labor force in Rwanda.

Gender equality is also institutionalized in all governance processes, where GMO monitors the respect of gender equality right from elections processes at local government level, parliament, and in the private sector.

"We congratulate Rwanda for the achievements and we believe such exchanges will continue to learn from each other on how we can keep institutionalizing gender accountability at all levels", said Ms. Stabile Dawa, Executive Director at Women's Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) and head of delegation.