Five years ago, when I was working with the Swedish Embassy in Kigali, I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion on gender issues in the workplace, organized by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). During the discussion, I learned about the Gender Equality Seal programme, a comprehensive gender audit of private companies and public institutions that aims to address issues such as the gender pay gap, representation of women in leadership, sexual harassment, and other gender-blind practices in the workplace.

Five years later, in March 2023, I had joined UNDP as an employee, and had the honor of emceeing an event at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, where hundreds of CEOs and heads of public institutions celebrated the success of the Gender Equality Seal programme and awarded the best institutions. 

Among the awardees was seemingly unlikely partner, the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), which had launched a gender-transformative mainstreaming strategy. BNR's Governor, John RWANGOMBWA, an intelligent, humble and reserved gentleman, proudly walked to the stage to receive the gold award amidst a cheering crowd, demonstrating the pride and joy of having developed a strategy that benefits the bank, and its employees, and makes the entire financial sector more gender responsive.

NBR’s gender mainstreaming strategy fosters the equal engagement of the Bank’s male and female staff throughout its operations, including financial inclusion. The Bank extends these practices to its policies, which in turn  regulate Rwanda’s financial sector. This will ensure that BNR’s constituency—banks, microfinance institutions, insurance companies and more—also treat women and men equally and are gender responsive. 

BNR is one of the 32 private companies and public institutions that have been supported, recognized, and certified by the programme, since its launch in 2018 in collaboration with UNDP, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), and the Private Sector Federation (PSF). Across these organisations the programme has increased respect women’s rights and fostered greater accountability for gender equality. In addition, some companies have found that improving gender equity has also benefitted the bottom line. For example, after the tea company SORWATHE constructed a day care for babies of tea pluckers, women were able to work more hours comfortably. 

Gender accountability is a constitutional duty to Public, Private and Civil Society Organisations. Gender Seal has helped the National Bank of Rwanda to fulfil this duty through accepting to undergo assessments and reporting on a clear set dimensions, standards and benchmarks.

UNDP’s partners in promoting the Gender Equality Seal Programme include UNWOMEN, Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector Federation (PSF), and others.

As a result of UNDP's efforts in supporting gender equality in Rwanda, Rwandan women and men are now more represented in decision-making positions, they are participating more, their rights are respected especially in work places, gender pay gaps are reduced and there is considerably more gender equal friendly working environments in public institutions, private companies and civil society. While challenges remain, UNDP and its partners are committed to continuing this transformative work.