Rwanda

Our work in Rwanda is guided by close collaboration with local organisations striving for equity and sustainable livelihoods. Together, we strengthen the resilience of indigenous groups like the Batwa, empower women and youth, and provide support for survivors of the 1994 genocide. Initiatives are implemented in diverse parts of the country, from Bugesera, Rulindo, and Gakenke to Rubavu, Rusiro, Kamonyi, Kigali, and communities across the Western Province.

Working together with communities facing social and economic barriers.

We have been cooperating with civil society actors in Rwanda since 2017. We support initiatives in the areas of education, advocacy, local value creation, and access to financial services. To date, twelve projects have been initiated, seven of which are currently active.

Rwanda – often referred to as the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' – has developed remarkably in recent decades. Despite the deep wounds of the 1994 genocide and the ongoing marginalisation of indigenous groups such as the Batwa, the country is consistently pursuing an agenda of social change.
The social participation of women plays a key role: in July 2024, the proportion of women in parliament was 63.8% (Inter-Parliamentary Union). At the same time, more than half of the electricity generation now comes from renewable sources (Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, Q2/2024). However, challenges such as income inequality and social exclusion persist – the Gini index was last at 43.7 (World Bank, 2016). The Gini index measures the distribution of income in a society: the higher the value, the greater the inequality.

The projects take place in various locations – in the Bugesera district, in the Rulindo and Gakenke districts, in the Western Province, in the Rubavu and Rusiro districts, in the Kamonyi district and in Kigali.

The organisations we support address challenges such as unemployment, limited access to education, food insecurity and social exclusion. Many projects focus on vocational training, improving agricultural practices and improving access to finance. These initiatives aim to support communities affected by past conflicts and current socio-economic challenges, and promote inclusion and stability.