Resource information
The development of the Agriculture Gender Strategy is in line with Rwanda’s Constitution of 2003, the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), the National Gender Policy and MINAGRI’s Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture in Rwanda-Phase II (PSTA-II). These provide the need for equality between men and women and boys and girls in all spheres of socio-economic development. As such, gender will be mainstreamed in the implementation of the PSTA II programs.The overall objectives of the gender strategy is to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development through institutionalisation of gender responsive programming (planning and budgeting), implementation, monitoring and reporting systems and improve gender equality in agriculture sector.The gender strategy will enable the MINAGRI and its partners effectively respond to the practical needs and strategic gender interests of both men and women farmers.The strategic objectives are: (i) to institutionalise gender equality in the agriculture sector, (ii) to develop capacities in the agriculture sector to enable gender sensitive programming, (iii) to enhance the gender responsiveness in delivery of agricultural services, (iv) to promote equal participation in decision making processes.In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the government plans to enhance the gender responsiveness in delivery of agricultural services will focus on a number of activities to promote gender equality, including: land use consolidation, agricultural mechanisation, fertilisers and seeds, one cow per poor family.Regarding the reduction of the rural poverty, the government plans to implement the following strategies: (i) train rural women and men in soft skills that include leadership, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, (ii) development and establishment of mechanisms for inclusion of gender related issues in SWAP, (iii) to develop and coordinate partnerships and collaborative mechanisms amongst government institutions, CSOs, private sector and development partners and integrate appropriate actions to respond to practical and strategic gender needs in the agriculture sector, (iv) supporting farmers, especially women, in project formulation and other soft skills (entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, conflict management), (v) communication and awareness on existing facilities (RIF2, agriculture and women guarantee fund) so that both women and men farmers and entrepreneurs have enough knowledge on how to access the funds, (vi) develop operational guidelines and procedures to facilitate equal access by women and men to opportunities and services that are channeled through farmer organisations and cooperatives, including women representation (at least 30%) in those structures and their active participation in decision making processes.In the context of governance, the implementation will be facilitated by a gender steering committee (GSC) primarily comprising of not more than 8 members, one from each of the following ministries MINAGRI, MIGEPROF, MINALOC, MINECOFIN, DC partner promoter, Gender Monitoring Office and the Gender Specialist employed by MINAGRI. It is envisaged that the role of the GSC will be to provide overall strategic direction in implementing the plan and advice on gender mainstreaming issues. The committee will also be responsible for, publicity and marketing the strategy. MINAGRI with the coordination of the Gender Specialist will collaborate with relevant government institutions and agencies such as stated above as well as the private sector, development partners and NGOs for the implementation of the strategy.
