By Wakibi Geoffrey

This year, Osaka, Japan, hosted the World Expo under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and Rwanda was so proud to participate. Scheduled for 13 April to 13 October 2025, the Expo brought together nations to celebrate their common future, highlighting sub-themes of saving, empowering, and connecting their lives.

This is the second participation in the World Expo following the country’s first participation in 2020 in Dubai where many local businesses found clients and investors while local artisans gained market access not just in the UAE but also across Asia.

For the Expo Osaka, Rwanda had bigger dreams come true. Rwanda stood among global innovators, focusing on people-centered actions. Rwanda’s pavilion focused on recent advancements in fields like health and space technology, artisanship with gender equality as a cross cutting. Rwanda’s pavilion also commemorate significant moments for our nation, such as Kwibohora 31 and Kwibuka 31, the commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

ASA Microfinance Rwanda Plc was recognized for demonstrating the best balance of gender diversity and commitment to the progression of women in the company, winning the SME Financial Employer of the Year at the 2025 Rwanda Women in Business Awards & Conference. The public limited is a for-profit, non-deposit taking Microfinance Institution, operating as a lending company, incorporated in 2014 in Rwanda

Held on April 24 at Lemigo Hotel and organized by Thousand Hills Events and Publications, the annual gathering brought together dynamic female business leaders from across the country under the theme “Elevating Equity, Empowering Women in Business and Beyond”

ASA Microfinance stood out for its commitment to the progression of women in the company and initiatives that support women in the workplace. The company’s employer focused on equal pay, training and career development, flexible working arrangements for careers, childcare initiatives for all employees.

Deputy Managing Director of ASA International Rwanda Plc, Golam Mostofa after receiving the crystal award

The highlights ASA microfinance’s dedication to not just business excellence, but fostering growth, equity, and empowerment within.

In his opening remarks, Nathan Ntaganzwa, Managing Director of Thousand Hills Events, welcomed the attendees at the 2925 Rwanda Women in Business Awards & Conference, and acknowledged the key partners whose support made the day a success.

He emphasized the importance of celebrating women’s contribution in driving Rwanda’s economy, highlighting the government’s commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.

“This event is about more than recognition; it is about honoring the central role women play in driving Rwanda’s economic growth and business transformation,” he said. He added that the awards aim to give a limelight to women who, through leadership and innovations, are reshaping Rwanda’s economic scene and contributing expressively to inclusive development.

At the same event, a thought-provoking panel discussion was held under this year’s theme “Elevating Equity: Empowering Women in Business and Beyond.” The panel brought together leaders from various sectors to explore the wider scopes of gender equity at workplace and economy.

Discussions focused on driving female entrepreneurship, the importance of gender balance, not just as a women’s issue, but an economic must, and how to create supportive workplace cultures.  

Panelists also addressed issues including fostering opportunities for female talent in STEM, putting an end to harmful stereotypes around feminism, particularly in professional settings, and the critical role for educators in preparing girls and women for leadership. Topics also emphasized the importance of male champions of change and the strong arm of the government and policy makers in institutionalizing gender-inclusive policies.

When Faith Voices Support for Equality: Religious
Leaders Collaborate to Eradicate GBV in Rwanda

Today, in the core of Kigali, RWAMREC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), is facilitating a landmark High-Level Meeting with Faith Leaders under the theme: “Faith in Action for Gender Equality and the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence.” Uniting over 60 senior religious leaders from various regions of Rwanda, this essential dialogue at Serena Hotel aims to convert shared values into collective accountability, as faith leaders engage in profound contemplation regarding their role in altering gender norms, preventing violence, and advocating for dignity for all. This is more than just a meeting—it represents a significant milestone. Faith Leaders at a Crossroads In Rwanda, where over 92% of the populace practices a religion, the moral authority of faith leaders is immense. They guide emotions, influence culture, and deliver messages that resonate beyond policies and programs. Today’s gathering acknowledges this influence and calls upon spiritual leaders to utilize it to challenge detrimental norms, reimagine leadership, and affirm the inherent value of every woman and girl. This meeting takes place at a crucial juncture, supported by an important new resource: the Situational Analysis on Faith-Based Organizations’ Engagement in Gender Equality and GBV Prevention, developed by RWAMREC with assistance from UNDP. The Situational Analysis: A Call to Reflect and Act This groundbreaking study exposes both the opportunities and challenges faced by faith communities: A number of faith based organizations (FBOs) are eager to get involved, yet they struggle with issues like doctrinal rigidity, limited gender capacity, and male-dominated leadership. There is some collaboration with women’s rights organizations (WROs)—but it is frequently informal or fragmented. Powerful initiatives, such as RICH’s interfaith curriculum and SEVOTA’s faith-based trauma healing, prove that change is not only possible—but is already occurring. To scale these initiatives, faith and rights must intentionally come together, utilizing shared tools, training, and partnerships. The Relevance of Today This dialogue is not solely about listening; it is about making a commitment. Throughout the morning, leaders will: Analyze their role in Rwanda’s pursuit of gender equality Reflect on the outcomes of the stakeholder mapping Make public commitments to enhance equality and prevent GBV within their congregations. A Moment of Unified Courage, this occasion is a significant demonstration of Rwanda’s leadership in inclusive, values-driven development. When faith institutions, government, civil society, and communities join forces, authentic transformation occurs. As President Paul Kagame once said, “Whenever women win, we all win as a country. Without equality, there can be no real progress.” Today, we take another step forward— together.

From May 27th to 30th, 2025, a four-day workshop in Musanze brought together editors, media owners, senior journalists, and CSO media representatives from across Rwanda to deepen their understanding of gender equality and strengthen their capacity for gender-transformative reporting. Organized by RWAMREC under the Generation Gender (Gen G) programme in partnership with MIGEPROF, the training provided an interactive learning experience focused on key gender concepts, media ethics, the power of language, and the vital role of media in advancing gender equality.

Participants were introduced to Rwanda’s National Gender Policy and the National Transformative Strategy Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality Promotion, both aligned with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). These frameworks emphasize national and political will of the government to drive social change through transformative approaches.

During one session, the Director General of Gender Promotion and Women Empowerment at MIGEPROF stressed the importance of addressing structural causes of inequality.
“This Gender Policy’s focus will be on addressing issues from their root causes, rather than dealing with effects, which often does not solve issues in a sustainable way,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Gender Monitoring Office introduced the Gender Equality SEAL, a certification tool that promotes gender accountability across institutions. She called on media professionals to get involved:
“Media houses have a key role to play in achieving gender equality and should work towards earning the Gender Equality SEAL certificate.”

RWAMREC’s Executive Director concluded the training by encouraging journalists to begin with self-reflection and lead by example:
“Be gender-equitable megaphones. Lead by example and use your platforms to amplify transformative messages that shift mindsets.”

One core theme of the training was the power of language in shaping public perception. Participants explored how unconscious gendered language can reinforce inequality and committed to using inclusive, respectful vocabulary in headlines, interviews, and stories. They acknowledged their responsibility to dismantle stereotypes and elevate diverse voices.

A key module on news framing challenged participants to change how gender issues are covered moving beyond portraying men as perpetrators and women as victims, and instead highlighting stories of collaboration, resilience, and leadership. They also explored the differences between sex (biological) and gender (socially constructed) roles, and how these affect media narratives.

Through the “gender boxes” activity, participants examined how societal norms assign dominance and emotional restraint to men, and submissiveness to women. They pledged to challenge these expectations by portraying more balanced and empowering gender roles in their reporting.

Another session introduced participants to different forms of power; “power within,” “power with,” “power over,” and “power to”, and how these dynamics can either promote or hinder gender equality. Journalists were encouraged to reflect on how power is used or misused in both their content and newsroom culture.

The training also tackled Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Technology-Facilitated GBV (TFGBV), including cyberbullying, stalking, and non-consensual image sharing. Participants were urged to avoid sensationalism and report on such topics with sensitivity and integrity, centering the voices and dignity of survivors.

Reflecting on their experiences, participants described the training as eye-opening.
“I made the decision to train the journalists I work with, produce educational stories, and shift mindsets around gender so that my contribution is impactful and constructive,” said one.
“Now I understand what gender really means and the types of language I should avoid when reporting,” added another.
“I came to understand the role of the media in delivering accurate information to the public and how it can reinforce certain mindsets without us even realizing it. shared one more.

Participants left the training with renewed motivation to revise their editorial practices, support peers, and produce stories that inform, empower, and help build a more equal Rwanda.

In many Rwandan households, caregiving and domestic responsibilities are often seen as a woman’s duty. Deeply rooted gender norms have long shaped expectations about what men and women should do in the home, frequently leaving women overwhelmed and unsupported and in some cases, leading to violence and tension in families.

Recognizing these challenges, RWAMREC introduced the Bandebereho program, a transformative initiative designed to engage men in parenting, maternal and child health, violence prevention, and caregiving. Implemented across several districts in Rwanda, the program works closely with health centers, training community health workers and providing education to couples, especially expectant parents and those raising young children.

The goal is simple but powerful: to create families built on mutual respect, shared responsibility, and non-violence.

One father’s journey with Bandebereho stands out as a powerful example of what change can look like when men are given space to reflect, learn, and grow.

Before joining the program, he admits that his home life placed all the burden on his wife.

“Before joining the Bandebereho program, my wife managed everything on her own; cooking, collecting firewood, cleaning, and taking care of the children,” he shared.

But that changed when the couple began participating in Bandebereho sessions together. Through interactive discussions and guided reflection, he began to see how unfair and harmful those patterns had been not only to his wife but to his children and himself.

“After we joined the program together, everything changed. The program had a remarkable impact on our lives,” he said.

The sessions emphasized positive communication, empathy, and the value of nurturing fatherhood. Slowly, he began taking part in everyday household tasks, cooking meals, sweeping the compound, helping the kids with homework, and caring for the younger ones.

“Through the education sessions, I learned to share household responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, washing, caring for our babies, and helping the children with their homework,” he explained.
“This program has strengthened my relationship with my wife and bonding with our children.”

One of the most powerful outcomes of this journey is his transformation from a man who once resorted to violence, to someone who now takes pride in being a gentle, present, and supportive caregiver.

“I am no longer violent at home; instead, I am now a supportive and engaged caregiver,” he affirmed.

The Bandebereho program doesn’t just change individuals; it transforms entire families. By helping men unlearn harmful gender norms and equipping them with practical tools to engage as equal partners and loving fathers, the program is building a foundation for healthier, happier homes across Rwanda.

This father’s story is just one of many, but it shows that when men are invited to be part of the solution, real and lasting change is possible.