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.
LOL using a laboratory in Djibouti & buying oil from a fellow seccecionist?
Is this a "country"? This joke should end as soon as possible. Embarrassing people wallahi.
shhhhhhhhhhhhh its called somaliland not somalia
Somaliland region of Somalia
Somaliland-Republic Re-independence 18-May-1991
Somaliland was once a Region in the dissolved Union of "Somali-Republic"
We do not recognize the Road-Map government of Somalia-Italia-federations.
Somalia
Your name says it all. Sick of jealousy and hate to see any progress.
Yes that’s the way countries go by. No standards people end up eating hyenas.
Please go and start some sort of human standards in your zoomalia insteads of coming and attacking people who are just going on doing their business.
Funny coming from people who cannot control more than a few streets in Mogadishu
It's called law and order and respect to your fellow muslim brother as Allah swt sees all and any dodgy behaviour will come back to haunt you in this life and the after.
Once the south is up and running fully we will start to see the same thing happening where the govt will start clamping down on opportunistic cowboys. The difference now is that Somaliland is way advanced but the South will soon start to follow.
lol "few streets"? read news and educate yourself. All of the south is in our hands.
You may be right for now but that is not without foreign support who only care about Somalia natural resources. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/18/…
However let us review your comment if the Amisom leaves or if they stay!
I would'nt be surprised if the shipment belonged to that Darood company Hass Petroleum, no business ethic to speak of, will sell anything even their own mothers to earn a quick buck, sad really.
lol Madar ur are so rigth…
Madar your stupid confuse idor,. time is up people like you from now on your president is Hassan culusow you hear that
Go tell your mother
It's good that the port authority made the right decision in this case but this is after they damaged so many cars, machines and products just few months ago after failing to spot contaminated petroleum products.
I welcome this measure because many of my family members are in northern Somalia.
Somaliand way advanced? Lol!. This must be joke of the day. Hargeisa has no water system, garbage disposal, paved roads, practically nothing a capital city could boast of!. Qat addicts have to learn the criteria a country could be measured to be an advanced country. I am not a Southie, rather from the Lala land you call Somaliland.
They live in an imaginary world. They cant even handle simple plastic bags…how hard is it just to burn them? And they asking the IC for recognition that they dont even know its definition.
At least we are not renting our teenage daughters to 20,000 HI5 Amisoms!
It's good that the slot power created the right choice in this situation but this is after they broken so many vehicles, devices and items just few several weeks ago after unable to identify infected oil items.