Rwanda has emerged as a global leader, proudly serving as co-lead of the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality
NEW YORK, United States of America, May 30, 2025/APO Group/ --
UN Women Rwanda, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), successfully convened the 4th Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Stakeholders Roundtable, reaffirming Rwanda’s global leadership in advancing gender equality through technology and innovation. Held at MIGEPROF headquarters, the bi-annual forum brought together over 50 stakeholders from across government, civil society, the private sector, academia, and development partners to assess national progress and strengthen cross-sector partnerships aligned with the GEF agenda and Rwanda’s national commitments .
Rwanda has emerged as a global leader, proudly serving as co-lead of the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality. With consistent coordination by UN Women and MIGEPROF, Rwanda has institutionalized a results-oriented, inclusive stakeholder engagement model. This roundtable served as a critical midpoint reflection in Rwanda’s five-year journey toward fulfilling its national pledges, first declared by H.E. President Paul Kagame at the 2021 Forum in Paris and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to using technology and innovation as a powerful lever for gender transformation.
Opening the session, Hon. Consolée Uwimana, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, emphasized the tangible strides made to date. Girls’ enrollment in STEM at the upper secondary level has increased from 44.7 per cent in 2021 to 48.6 per cent in 2024. Mobile phone ownership among women-led households has risen from 54.4 per cent to 74 per cent. Additionally, young women innovators have triumphed in three consecutive editions of the national Hanga Pitch Fest competition. “These are not just statistics, they are stories of transformation,” said Minister Uwimana. “As we reflect on our commitments, let’s remember we are here as Rwanda’s voice in the Generation Equality Forum. The world is watching. Let’s show what is possible when strong leadership and partnerships work together to drive real change.”
The forum featured presentations from key government institutions. The Ministry of ICT and Innovation, alongside the Rwanda Information Society Authority, highlighted advances in broadband connectivity and digital device distribution. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning acknowledged notable gains in expanding digital financial inclusion while also calling for improved tracking mechanisms. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported increased engagement of women in e-commerce and digital marketplaces, while the Ministry of Education showcased the transformative impact of targeted STEM and coding programs, including the African Girls Can Code Initiative.
In her keynote remarks, Ms. Jennet Kem, UN Women Country Representative, commended MIGEPROF’s leadership and reiterated UN Women’s commitment to coordinated multistakeholder action. “This platform reflects the full essence of the GEF model, bringing together experiences, resources, and good practices from all sectors,” she said. “Rwanda’s coordinated efforts with stakeholders, consistently convened over the past four years, demonstrate what effective implementation and accountability look like.” She pointed to its election as Vice-Chair of the 70th Commission on the Status of Women as an opportunity to influence global gender-tech norms providing global and regional perspective.
Joining the stakeholders virtually, Ms. Hélène Molinier, UN Women’s Advisor on Digital Gender Cooperation, shared that the Generation Equality Forum has mobilized over $40 billion in financial pledges and more than 2,500 policy and program commitments globally. She commended Rwanda’s ability to not only make bold pledges but to institutionalize them through structured coordination and accountability mechanisms, positioning the country as a global exemplar in translating ambition into action.
During the meeting, participants emphasized the need to systematically document initiatives that advance the gender and digitization agenda to foster coherent, coordinated action and better leverage stakeholder contributions across the ecosystem. Accelerating grassroots efforts was highlighted as essential for sustaining progress, with a strong call to utilize community structures to tackle persistent barriers to girls' education in STEM fields. Addressing emerging GEWE challenges, particularly technology-facilitated gender-based violence, was identified as a critical priority in the roll out of the national digitisation agenda. Stakeholders also stressed the importance of evidence-based policies, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, particularly with research institutions and innovation hubs, to develop tailored solutions that bridge the gender digital divide and strengthen women and girls’ digital skills and entrepreneurial potential. Strengthening national coordination mechanisms was recognized as key to ensuring impactful and synergistic actions.
Closing the session, Mr. Silas Ngayaboshya, Director General of MIGEPROF, reaffirmed Rwanda’s resolve. “Our pledges are not mere aspirations, they are transformative promises. We must continue to challenge the norms, bridge digital gaps, and ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”
As Rwanda looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, the 4th Generation Equality Stakeholders Roundtable once again showcased a collective national vision rooted in accountability, innovation, and inclusive leadership. With coordinated action and sustained momentum, Rwanda continues to lead by example, demonstrating how technology can serve as a powerful engine for gender equality.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
you will never drill in holhol, taleex, xudun or any place on our land.
sign deals as much as you want, but the norwegians are warned and so are this so called somaliland administration.
there is no oil in those places though and even if there was, we would not be asking you.
Good warm welcome news. Thumbs up in support.
Cheers.
Those Scandinavian countries know whats up, very well managed states. Highly educated, great heathcare, liberal secular humanists these are the types of partners we should be seeking on the world stage we become who we associate with.
We are a product of who we associate with. We become that product's mold (image) but unfortunately some of us remain in that mold and never outgrow it.
Unlike Genel the regional manager of DNO is a highly intelligent and an honest man. He did not come to enrich himself but to help his motherland. I just hope he has the guts to give Xirsi and company the hike and tell them not to interfere with his operations. What I personally would want to see is that the majority of the contracts (equipment, transportation) given to Dhulbahante.
Do you think dhulbahante are guests of their own land? guess again my friend.
war dhulbahante ma waxaad moody dad marti ku ah dhulkooda?
Nacasnimada iska dhaafa, if you want to look for oil, try with genel in your own land first, it seems like you cannot even agree on your own land in the first place, before you try to sell someone else's land.
I promise you dhulbahante will never ever allow the norwegians nor the isaaqs to come and digg for oil in their land. It is ok for your troops to remain in some parts of our cities which we are planing to remove soon, but you can dream on for our oil. This oil belongs to the republic of Somalia, not a one clan seccenist enclave
People like you from Taleex engrossed with the failed idea of hartism, driven by pure hatred of their land, will regret this when you see the progress made by Somalilanders of holhol and environs (Gambadhe, Tukaraq, iyo Dooxada Xudun) . People like you will soon be coming to beg for forgiveness when you see pipes from holhol passing thru Tuulo Samakab and Oog.
Just remember the might of Somalilanders who obliterated Africa's most mechanized army to oblivion. Perhaps you need a new reminder that Somaliland's army is 10,000 times stronger and more equipped than when they were fighting for their freedom. Here is a good reminder why (
) you should never dream Somaliland is an easy target.
you will not ask the owner of the land? funny guy are, you should learn something called reality on the ground, its much different than behind a computer screen, where you can switch between SNM hero at somalilandpress and continue play war craft.
Uncivilised comment and very well below standard do you really have guts and print such a foolish comment and secondly l think you have come from very primitive tribe and understand that land belong to the Republic of Somaliland and no one else, l hope you have understood the situation full Stop.
I love patriotic people. well-done bro Patriotic. Just beware there is no primitive tribe in Somaliland, only a few individuals with wanlaweyn characters. We just need to re-educate them so that they stop saying 'no, this is mine, this is my village, this my water well, this my village, this is my, my, my, ….'. As you rightly have said is The Republic of Somaliland is for us all regardless of our regional background.
It belongs to the federal republic of Somalia last time I checked, you need to stoop with your stupid seccenist thoughts, only then we can agree on something, until then, Why would I a Dhulbahante of the Harti sub clan of the Darood clan allow myself to become a minority clan amongst isaaqs who are blood thirsty and have no respect for human lives? why would I allow that when I see that even amongst your selfs there are discrimination, I know that the habar jeclo administration alone have done so much bad and corrupted the land just the past few years. And that the other clans cannot withstand this anymore. Why should I explain to me? it is pure logic and common sense, that my interest are amongst the somali people in somalia, not within a one clan enclave…
It is quite astonishing the way The Somaliland President status has been REDUCED only to a five minute photo ops with foreign dignitaries and swift back to total obscurity. What the hell is going ON!!!!! Somebody speak up!
Hmmmmmmm