Gender Analysis for Sustainable Livelihoods and Participatory Governance in Rwanda

This report analyses the gender differences in Rwanda and explores why these differences exist and what they mean for sustainable livelihoods and participatory governance, to inform the Oxfam Rwanda Country Programme. The report includes an analysis of the legal and policy framework for gender equality and the empowerment of women, an analysis of secondary data, and insights from qualitative research with key informants and women and men in Rwanda. It draws on data from a number of sources, including the main surveys carried out under the auspices of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, survey and qualitative research carried out by IPAR-Rwanda over the last four years and other relevant research and qualitative research carried out specifically for this project.(Appendix 2 provided selected gender disaggregated indicators and Appendix 3 gives indicators for women by household wealth.) The analysis used the USAID six domains of gender as its framework and examined each domain in turn 1. It concludes by highlighting the key barriers and constraints for women claiming and exercising their rights and makes recommendations and draws out implications for Oxfam. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are key goals in their own right and are central to all other development goals. Smart development means promoting gender equality and empowering women. Gender outcomes are not just about employment rates, education outcomes, financial inclusion or representation in governance institutions; they are about equitable decision-making power, shared control over assets and income, personal safety, mobility, equitable interpersonal relations and having voice and agency. They are about transforming the relationship between men and women so that women as well as men are able to claim and exercise their human rights.