Rwanda championing women inclusion

Author: Lindah Uwase

• 2024-03-09 05:35:00

March 8 marks the annual celebration of International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to taking stock of the achievements made by women in the social, economic, cultural and political spheres.

Celebrated since over a century ago, this day is more than a reminder; it is a catalyst for improving gender equality around the world.

The theme of International Women's Day 2024: Inclusion inspires, is in line with Rwanda's strong commitment to engaging women to advance the country's development agenda. Notably, Rwanda made progress in bridging the gender inequality gap in government systems through the implementation of development policies and strategies.

Rwanda has the highest percentage of women in parliament worldwide, at an impressive 61.3 per cent, and nearly half of the Rwandan workforce is made up of women.

Despite these advances, women hold only 32 per cent of decision-making roles in the private sector but it’s not a worrying issue due to the ongoing initiatives. A promising trend is emerging as an increasing number of private enterprises seek to fill this gap and increase their operational efficiency by participating in initiatives such as the Gender Equality Seal.

Launched in 2018, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, Rwanda’s Gender Monitoring Office, and private sector partnerships, the seal is a framework for audit to identify who is effectively implementing the required gender thresholds.

Since its inception, 32 private companies and public organizations have achieved certification under the Gender Equality Seal, establishing themselves as leaders in advancing gender equality in the workplace.

The demand for gender equality goes beyond mere moral considerations. McKinsey Global Institute research confirmed that advancing women’s equality around the world can boost global economic growth by a staggering $12 trillion.

There is a strong correlation between a company’s gender inclusion goal and financial performance. Companies that have eliminated gender-based pay gaps and increased female representation in decision-making roles have seen noticeable improvements in productivity and profitability; and gender-balanced companies have increased innovation and generosity.

While Citibank research reiterates the need for gender equality in the economy, it shows that reducing gender inequality in the workplace would increase GDP by about 6 per cent in acquired countries’ development over the next two decades.

In Rwanda, companies that have been recognized through gender equality certifications have done many things, including providing breastfeeding facilities, diversifying female representation in roles that were traditionally male-dominated, established sexual assault policies, and improving the gender pay gap.

These policies not only support basic human rights but also promote good working conditions, increase productivity, promote gender equality and ultimately generate income.

Rwanda’s desire to transform antiquated institutions and encourage forward thinking positions the country as a leadership beacon for inclusive development.