It is almost two months since the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) in partnership with the Belgian Embassy and Enabel launched gender profiles in Energy and Health Sectors, an event that graced by different high government officials, development partners and stakeholders. This was a real celebration of another milestone achieved in promoting gender accountability as per the Office’s key mandate.

The gender profiles which were developed under the support of the Belgium Development Agency (Enabel) and the Belgian Embassy contain qualitative and quantitative data and information picturing the gender equality status in the profiled sectors. Contained Information will also guide policy makers, stakeholders and all actors in advancing policy actions geared towards promoting accountability to gender equality in the Health and energy sectors.

On the launch, the Guest of Honor, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Honorable Amb. Nyirahabimana Soline highlighted that the two profiles will inform the ongoing national planning processes to ensure that highlighted achievements are sustained, gender gaps addressed and the Country’s gender agenda advanced.

‘‘These gender profiles come at an opportune time to inform the health and energy sector practitioners as well as actors on where to put more emphasis across the highlighted indicators to ensure gender responsive programming, planning, budgeting and implementation processes to keep advancing the national gender agenda,’’ said Hon. Minister.

‘‘It is important to highlight that the Government alone cannot achieve the desired socio-economic transformation for its Citizens. The involvement and contribution of different partners including the private sector, Civil Society Organizations and development partners is very key,’’ She added.

The Chief Gender Monitor in her remarks indicated that gender sector profiling is not only a strategy to further promote gender accountability, but also a tool for advocacy and evidence based on Rwanda’s progress made in promotion of gender equality and persisting gaps that need more attention.

‘‘Gender profiling is one of the core businesses of Gender Monitoring Office. As a monitoring body, it is great to have gender desegregated data as they clearly show the gender status and where we are as a country,’’ said Rose Rwabuhihi the Chief Gender Monitor.

Some Gender fact sheet in Health and Energy sectors

Thanks to the political will at the highest level and gender friendly policy frameworks, Rwanda has witnessed tremendous achievements and its gains are visible in different sectors. 

Talking from a health perspective, the infant mortality rate reduced from 123.2 per 1000 in 2000 to 45 per 1000 in 2015 for male; women who delivered at health facilities increased from 28.2% in 2005 to 90.7% in 2015 while the maternal mortality reduced from 1,071 per 100,000 in 2000 to 210 per 100,000 in 2015. This sharp reduction is attributed to among others institutionalization of maternal death audits, close follow-up on mothers and young children by community health workers as well as strengthened capacity of health professionals to deliver health quality services. Accessibility to health insurance especially mutuelle de sante have contributed to improved access to health care services.

More efforts are needed

On another note, the profiling processes indicated that more efforts are needed to continue mobilizing women on the benefits of antenatal visits and encourage them to accomplish at least four required ANC visits during pregnancy so as to track the growth of the baby and health of the mother. 
Energy Sector

The energy sector also recorded a relative improvement in the last couple of years. For instance, the percentage of households using electricity as the main source of energy for lighting increased from 12.1 in 2010 to 29.4 in 2017 for male headed HHs and 7.3 in 2010 to 20.3 in 2017 for female headed HHs.

In addition, though firewood and charcoal remain predominant as sources cooking energy for both male and female headed households for among male and female headed householders as source of cooking energy with 78.3% and 84.7% respectively. These recent data from EICV5 indicates a slight decrease in the use of firewood for male and female headed households. The profile recommended measures to improve women’s access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services especially those in rural areas and household headed by poor women.

To access the Health and Energy Profile publications click here: gmo.gov.rw/index.php