Rwandan Lawmakers Push for Smarter Gender-Responsive Budgeting to Address Inequality Gaps
Kigali, Rwanda – May 21, 2024
Rwandan lawmakers are calling for a more evidence-based approach to gender-responsive budgeting, emphasizing that true equity means allocating resources based on need—not just equal distribution. The push came during a high-level dialogue hosted by the Forum for Women Parliamentarians (FFRP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kigali this week.
Beyond Equal Splits: Budgeting for Real Needs
“Gender-responsive budgeting isn’t about dividing funds 50-50 between men and women,” said Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda. “It’s about asking: Who benefits? Who’s left behind? And whose needs are being prioritized?”
Sesay praised Rwanda’s global leadership in women’s political representation—with women holding nearly 64% of parliamentary seats—but stressed that true progress lies in how policies translate into tangible change. “Women’s leadership has reshaped governance, but budgets must reflect those gains,” she added.
Unpaid Care Work and Social Norms Hold Women Back
Silas Ngayaboshya, Director General of Gender Promotion at Rwanda’s Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), highlighted persistent cultural barriers. “Society still expects women to shoulder unpaid care work—cooking, cleaning, childcare—which limits their economic participation,” he said.
He cited examples like female tea plantation workers forced to leave shifts to breastfeed, often labeled “unreliable” by employers. “Simple solutions like on-site childcare could remove these hurdles,” he noted.
Economist Johnson Bosco Rukundo criticized superficial equality in budgeting. “Some schools build equal toilets for boys and girls, even when 80% of students are girls. That’s not equity—it’s box-ticking.”
Gaps in Implementation and Accountability
Despite progress, lawmakers flagged weak follow-through. MP Odette Uwamariya, chair of Rwanda’s State Budget Committee, said while 85% of 2024/25 budgets are being executed, many institutions lack skills to draft effective gender analyses. “Officials understand the why, but the how remains shaky,” she admitted.
Senator Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano raised concerns about accountability. “Annual gender audits happen, but who enforces the recommendations?” she asked. MP Egide Nkuranga added that women in infrastructure projects are often relegated to low-skill roles like “flag-waving” instead of technical jobs.
Next Steps: Data-Driven Reforms
Participants agreed on urgent fixes:
- Centralized gender data systems to guide budgeting.
- Training for local planners overwhelmed by workloads.
- Stricter enforcement of gender audits.
As Rwanda advances its National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), the focus is shifting from symbolic wins to measurable impact. “Equality isn’t just numbers—it’s about closing gaps where they exist,” said Chamber of Deputies Speaker Gertrude Kazarwa. “We’ve come far, but the road ahead is longer.”
— Reported by Nexio News
