On March 8 every year, Rwanda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the incredible contributions of women. This year’s global theme “For all women and girls: Rights, equality and Empowerment,” calls to not just celebrate progress, but to actively champion the rights and empowerment of women and girls everywhere.
Rwanda’s national theme, “Empowered Women, Stronger Nation’, translated in Kinyarwanda: ‘Umugore ni uw’agaciro,” resonates deeply with the global call. It highlights the crucial link between empowering women today and building a brighter future for nations and generations to come.
In celebration of Women’s Day, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment Honourable Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, and the Global Green Growth Institute’s Country Representative in Rwanda Caroline Raes explore why empowering women for climate action benefit us all.
As someone who had the privilege of serving both as Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Women Empowerment and now as Minister of Environment, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine witnessed firsthand the inextricable link between the two critical areas – women empowerment and climate crisis.
Ms. Caroline has worked in different international organizations amplifying women’s voices to become powerful agents of change in climate action and building resilient communities.
Caroline Raes (left), Global Green Growth Institute Country Representative in Rwanda and Dr. Valentine Uwamariya (right), Rwanda’s Minister of Environment joined communities for the tree planting in Bugesera district. ©GGGI Rwanda 2024
My name is Caroline Raes, I hail from Ethiopia, but I have lived and worked across several continents throughout my career. I moved to Rwanda two years ago, joining the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an inter-Governmental Organization supporting the Government of Rwanda with its ambitions to become an upper middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income, climate-resilient and low-carbon economy country by 2050.
Working in Rwanda as a female Country Representative for GGGI has been a breath of fresh air. I am inspired to work in a country where several senior counterparts in government are also women. I have benefitted from their support and a strong sense of community amongst this thriving group of female climate leaders. I am committed to paying it forward and ensuring that I can pave the way for even more women and girls to unleash their potential through GGGI’s work in Rwanda. March 8 couldn’t be more fitting to share my thoughts on why women’s empowerment for climate action is more crucial than ever before.
As the world grapples with climate change effects, International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to recognize how climate-related shocks affect women and rethink empowering them to cope with the challenges they face. Not just on this day, but every single day because “empowering women is not just a matter of fairness: it is a strategic imperative for climate adaptation.”
As women leaders we know that every day needs to be about empowering women to take charge because it makes sense, socially, economically, culturally, in every way! They are at the forefront of implementing innovative solutions, thus creating a ripple effect that benefit families, communities, and the nation. In the context of Rwanda, the country has set an example that when women and girls are empowered, it benefits us all.
Rwanda’s journey of promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for Climate Action
Rwanda has made significant strides in gender equality, notably in decision-making organs. For instance, the country has the highest number of female parliamentarians and is ranked 5th in Africa and 39th globally in bridging the gender gap. It has 63.8% of female Deputies, 53.8% of female Senators, and 45.4% of the cabinet members are women. This is not just about numbers; it’s a strategic investment that translates into giving equal opportunities to women who comprise 52% of the population, thus fostering inclusive growth and a more equitable society.
Given women’s pivotal role in the country’s socio-economic transformation across various sectors, empowering them for climate action is not just a matter of equality: it is essential for building a sustainable future. Rwanda has emerged as a regional model in championing women’s empowerment for climate resilience. The nation has proactively integrated gender considerations into its climate policies and initiatives. Notably, the government’s focus on gender-responsive budgeting has led to increased allocation of resources towards initiatives that directly support women’s climate adaptation.
Furthermore, programs like the Land Tenure Regularisation (LTR) have strengthened women’s land ownership rights which rose to 26% in 2023, a crucial factor in building climate resilience in agricultural communities. Rwanda has shown consistent progress in gender equality indicators, which translates to enhanced capacity for women to participate in and benefit from climate resilience efforts. This commitment is also reflected in the National Climate Change Strategy known as the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy, which integrates gender considerations across all sectors. The strategy aims to move beyond simply acknowledging women’s vulnerability to actively empowering them to play a central role in building a climate-resilient and sustainable future.
From promoting women’s participation in global and local climate action planning to ensuring their access to productive resources such as land ownership and access to finance, Rwanda is demonstrating a clear commitment to leveraging women’s knowledge and leadership. “Women’s knowledge and action are vital for climate resilience. Supporting their leadership is key to safeguarding Rwanda’s environmental future and strengthening the foundation of families and communities. When women are equipped with the right tools, they drive sustainable development, foster social cohesion, and inspire future generations to take on climate action as a collective responsibility. And in Rwanda, we don’t leave anyone behind.” – Dr Valentine Uwamariya, Rwandan Minister of Environment
Yet, there’s still a lot to do to empower women for climate resilience as they often bear the brunt of climate-change effects. For instance, in sectors like agriculture where 77.7% of Rwandan women rely on agriculture as their primary source of income, climate-related shocks like droughts and floods have a huge impact on their income. Female-headed households are even more impacted. They also often have limited access to land ownership, and formal credits, hindering their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Furthermore, women are often central to household resource management, including water – making them more vulnerable to environmental degradation. Even in areas like waste management, where women are often active, climate change exacerbates existing difficulties. An assessment conducted by GGGI in December 2022 revealed that in the City of Kigali and Secondary Cities, gender inequalities within Rwanda’s waste sector present significant challenges. Women, who are most heavily involved in waste sorting and management, frequently face precarious working conditions. Limited access to protective equipment and formal employment exposes them further to increased health risks. Despite their active participation, they often lack decision-making power and equitable compensation. Cultural norms further restrict their access to training and resources, hindering the adoption of safer practices. The informal nature of the waste management sector disproportionately affects women, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and limited social protection.
GGGI’s Partnership for Progress
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has been a strong ally of the Government of Rwanda in this journey of not just empowering women but also helping them to navigate challenges related to climate change.
In 2023, GGGI partnered with Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in creating seventy-five green jobs, including for females in waste sorting, management, and valorization through the Waste to Resources project. The project also trained 114 women in circular economy strategies and conducted a Gender Assessment and Gender Action Plan for improved waste management in the City of Kigali and Secondary Cities in Rwanda. GGGI also supported the Rwanda Greenpreneurs Network, fostering women’s green entrepreneurship. Through these, we are nurturing the next generation of female climate leaders, building a strong foundation for future generations to lead the fight against climate change.
“When women gain skills, power and control over their own lives, they become strong agents of change within their communities, shaping the values, aspirations, and opportunities available to the next generation, thus building a more equitable and prosperous society for all Rwandans.”– Caroline Raes, Country Representative, Global Green Growth Institute in Rwanda.
Women and man employed by COCEN, a local company that collects and transports solid waste in Kigali City, Rwanda during the Gender Assessment activity conducted under the Waste to Resources Project, implemented through the partnership between Global Green Growth Institute, Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment and the Government of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Project creating green jobs, including for females in waste sorting, management, and valorization. ©GGGI 2023
As Rwanda gears up for the revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs 3.0), GGGI remains committed to working with the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to ensure that Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) is mainstreamed in Rwanda’s NDC 3.0.
“To build a more resilient and sustainable world, it is crucial that we move away from perceiving women and girls as just vulnerable and passive individuals but rather consider them as critical agents of change. This requires enabling their active engagement in climate action, strengthening their resilience to cope with the impact of climate change and giving them the power and resources to unlock their potential as climate leaders.” – Caroline Raes, Country Representative, Global Green Growth Institute in Rwanda.
The Global Green Growth Institute will support the development of a cutting-edge tool – a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion index and simulator – to track the integration of gender-responsive and socially inclusive actions. The index and simulation tool will enable policymakers to systematically monitor and assess the progress of gender and inclusivity related indicators within Rwanda’s climate action initiatives.
Recognizing the crucial role of rural women in environmental stewardship, GGGI is working with the Government of Rwanda to conduct an assessment on climate resilience and empowerment needs of rural women, as part of a GCF Readiness project. This assessment will inform targeted interventions to strengthen their participation in climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and climate action initiatives.
On this International Women’s Day, let us commit to empowering women as climate action champions. By building their resilience from the ground up, we help build a sustainable future for all.
Women from Kamembe Site in Rusizi district, one of the Secondary Cities in Rwanda participate in a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Assessment activity under the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Readiness Project implemented through a partnership between GGGI and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF). ©GGGI 2023