Earlier in September 2025, RWAMREC joined continental leaders in Lusaka, Zambia, for the Consultative Meeting on Positive Masculinity in Africa. The gathering brought together African Union representatives, civil society, and development partners to explore how redefining masculinity can foster equality, peace, and sustainability.
At the meeting, RWAMREC Executive Director, Fidele Rutayisire, shared Rwanda’s powerful example through initiatives such as Bandebereho, Powered by Women, and Kataza — programs that involve men in caregiving, prevent gender-based violence, and strengthen family relationships.
The discussions emphasized that harmful masculinities, often rooted in dominance and aggression, harm both people and the planet. Research shows they contribute to resource conflicts, militarization, and environmental degradation — all of which undermine peace and sustainability.
RWAMREC’s message was clear: transforming masculinity is climate action. Promoting caring, cooperative masculinities supports peacebuilding, gender equality, and environmental conservation.
The organization also underscored the link between gender equality and climate resilience:
- Educated girls and accessible family planning strengthen climate adaptation.
- Clean cooking technologies reduce deforestation and improve household wellbeing.
- Economies that value care — rather than extraction and profit — create fairer, more sustainable societies.
“Building economies of care is not only about gender equality,” RWAMREC advocates. “It’s about the survival and sustainability of our communities.”