Nyakabanda and Rwezamenyo: towards inclusive participation of women and people with disabilities
Around sixty residents of Nyakabanda and Rwezamenyo neighbourhood took part in a three-day capacity-building and gender equity workshop organised by the Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN). The aim was to ensure that everyone – particularly women and people with disabilities – had a voice and a role in designing their neighbourhood.
The workshop addressed the social and structural barriers that limit the participation of women and persons with disabilities in planning, decision-making and project implementation. Topics covered included unpaid care work, limited access to leadership positions and unequal access to employment.
"Participating in this training as a woman with a disability reminded me that I have a place in decision-making spaces. The project gives us a platform to contribute, not only to be seen, but also to be heard and respected."
— Kabagwira Sada (representative for persons with disabilities)
Participants also studied Rwandan legal frameworks relating to family rights, labour law, land ownership and protection against gender-based violence, strengthening their understanding of their rights and responsibilities at the community level. Together, they proposed concrete strategies to promote inclusion, such as community awareness campaigns on sharing domestic tasks, inclusive recruitment policies for construction sites, and flexible childcare models that enable women to participate.
As work begins on the Rwezamenyo and Nyakabanda water points, women will also be mobilised: the UFI Kigali impact strategy stipulates that at least 30% of construction jobs must be filled by women.