Rwanda rolls out gender-inclusive water management strategy

By The Inspirer.

Rwanda Water Resources Board has launched a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy aimed at embedding inclusivity in water governance and strengthening resilience in the sector.

The strategy was unveiled on March 26, 2026, during World Water Day celebrations held at Kigali Marriott Hotel.

RWB said the framework marks a major shift toward ensuring that water resource management in Rwanda is not only efficient but also responsive to the needs of all groups, particularly women and vulnerable communities.

The initiative targets long-standing gaps in infrastructure planning—such as dams and flood control systems—where gender-specific needs have often been overlooked.

By integrating gender considerations into planning and investment, the agency aims to improve service delivery and ensure equitable access to water resources.

RWB Chief Executive Officer Eng. Richard Nyirishema said internal assessments revealed that many programmes, though designed to be gender-neutral, failed to reflect the lived realities of different groups.

“Women shoulder the bulk of water-related responsibilities at the household level, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making,” he said, warning that this gap undermines both institutional effectiveness and climate resilience.

The strategy aligns with Rwanda’s national gender agenda and sets out to increase the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in water governance, including decisions on allocation, conservation and climate adaptation.

Sam Kanyamibwa, founder and Executive Director of Albertine Rift Conservation Society, said the move signals a shift from passive inclusion to active leadership.

He noted that past approaches often overlooked the disproportionate burden carried by women, adding that the new strategy positions them—and other underrepresented groups—as key actors in decision-making.

RWB is mandated to ensure the sustainable management and equitable distribution of Rwanda’s water resources through conservation, development and efficient utilisation.