FEATURED: Highlights of MIGEPROF key achievements 2017/2018 mandate

MIGEPROF’s mandate is to coordinate the formulation and implementation of national policies, strategies and programs regarding the promotion of Gender Equality and Women empowerment, Family promotion and children’s rights protection. This is achieved through developing and disseminating policies, strategies and programs; drafting laws, setting up programs and strategies all related to gender equality, women empowerment, family promotion and child protection. The 2018 year left remarkable achievements: Preventive and responsive mechanisms to stunting and malnutrition boosted Following the set-up of the National Early Childhood Development Program (NECDP) in October 2017, the GoR envisions to reduce malnutrition among children under 5 years from 38 to 29.9 % by 2020. As part of this move, knowledge on ECD interventions was increased through awareness campaigns that were conducted in 30 Districts on good practices on nutrition, hygiene, involvement in ECDs services, child protection, early learning as well as inclusion of children with disabilities conducted. In addition, 1,154 Caregivers, 416 Inshuti Z’Umuryango (IZU), 859 districts and sectors’ staff intervening in social welfare were trained on the integrated ECD services. 30 ECD Model centers were established across the country to provide holistic services to children under 6 years. The Government built 3 low cost ECD centers in 13 districts that are most affected by stunting and malnutrition namely: Nyabihu, Ngororero, Karongi, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Rusizi, Nyamagabe, Huye, Nyaruguru, Ruhango, Gakenke, Kayonza and Bugesera. In May 2018, The Prime Minister, Right Honorable Edouard Ngirente launched ‘Rwanda Stunting Prevention and Reduction Project’ (SPRP) which is supported by the World Bank. The project worth of $ 55 million aims at reducing stunting rates among children under age 5 in 13 of Rwanda’s highest-stunting districts. This will be achieved by supporting community-based approaches, improve the delivery of high-impact nutrition and health interventions, incentivize frontline community health workers and health personnel, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and promote a learning-by-doing approach to draw lessons on what works and how it can be scaled up. Family Promotion, child protection and GBV Prevention and response In the area of family promotion, child protection GBV prevention and response, a number of achievements were recorded, including: The Governance and Family Welfare Campaign was jointly conducted by MIGEPROF in collaboration with other Social Cluster’s Ministries under the theme ‘Building the Family We Want, Say no to Child Defilement”. During the campaign that run from 11 October 2018 up to 10 December 2018, a number of activities were carried out. The campaign focused on integrated maternal and child health campaign where 45,984 beneficiaries were sensitized on family planning, screening of malnutrition that targeted children aged from 6 to 59 months. In the framework of fighting gender based violence, during the Gender Accountability Day (GAD) held in Ngororero district between 17-23/11/2018, 100 teen mothers were provided with psycho-trauma counseling services through GBV clinics that brought together GBV victims including teen mothers and their parents for discussion. These clinics were conducted in 3 Districts that are Gisagara, Musanze and Nyamasheke. 1308 babies were registered in civil books including children born from teen mothers whilst 397 couples legalized their marriages and 389 vulnerable persons were supported with health insurance. Indashyikirwa model also known as agents of change was scaled up. The model aims at reducing intimate partner violence by using a gender synchronized approach, bringing about sustainable social change through the engagement of men and women at the individual, family and community level. It was implemented in 04 Districts (Kirehe, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Ngoma), resulting in training 640 couples for five months on women and men empowerment towards the prevention of GBV in communities. A number of 5,500 local leaders from 9 Districts and 10,700 Inshuti Z’Umuryango (IZU) operating in 11 Districts were trained on child protection system in Rwanda. 154 District and Sector DASSO Coordinators were trained as trainers of trainers on GBV prevention and response; 206 IOSC staff were trained on GBV prevention & response multidisciplinary services. 02 shelters for GBV victims were constructed at Rwinkwavu and Gakoma District Hospitals and currently 44 IOSCs scattered across the country were provided with running costs. Gender Equality Promotion and women empowerment With the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through UN WOMEN, a joint project on ‘Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda’ was implemented. As a result, the National Gender Machinery institutions’ capacity was strengthened through capacity building and transformation al leadership trainings that targeted 65 people (31 Middle Managers and 34 Executive Managers) from The National Gender Machinery Institutions, public and private sectors. In regard of mainstreaming gender across both public and private programs, 107 staffs from central and local government, PSF, CSOs and FBOs were trained on Gender Economic Policy Management to enable them analyzing gender situation in their respective programs. 50 Chief Editors (38 men & 12 women) were trained on Gender mainstreaming within media houses and Gender Sensitive Code of conduct & Ethics for media in the framework of having a gender responsive media. The National Gender and Family Cluster was also revived in a bid to boost up coordination and synergizing efforts among MIGEPROF, National Gender Machinery Institutions and other partners intervening in Gender and Family Promotion areas. The cluster consists of sub clusters namely: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE), Family Promotion and GBV Prevention, Child Protection and Early Childhood Development sub-clusters. It also abetted in planning and implementing the Gender Budget statement and the Gender Management Information System (GMIS) to further enhance generation of sex disaggregated data and information to enhance evidence-based planning and decision making. The project also contributed a lot in mind-set change and awareness raising on Gender Equality through #HeForShe outreach campaigns and other home grown initiatives like Umugoroba w’Ababyeyi. The women and girls’ empowerment flagship of the program improved living conditions of vulnerable women and girls including former street vendors and teen mothers through earnings generated from startup capital as well as trainings in entrepreneurship, mentorship and leadership that were provided. In this regard, 10,410 women’s Projects were supported through BDF products, 1,104 Adolescent Girls Initiative (AGI) graduates have been supported with toolkits and loan facility in Gicumbi, Rulindo, Gasabo and Kicukiro Districts; 1661 girls including teen mothers were mentored on career guidance, leadership and entrepreneurship in Districts (Nyaruguru & Bugesera). Prospects for 2019 The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion is looking forward for the 2019 prospects that are aligned with NST1: Strengthening coordination mechanism through operationalization of Gender and Family Cluster (NGFC); reducing chronic malnutrition-stunting among under 5 Children from 38% (2016-17) to 19% by 2024 through distributing Food and vitamin supplements using Fortified Blended Food (FBF), one Cup of milk per child to those already affected, promoting at the village level the 1,000 days, promote positive values (gender equality and equity) from the early childhood; continue working closely with the Private sector, CSOs, Religious Based Organizations in fighting malnutrition and stunting, raising awareness on ECD services, family promotion and gender equality via men engage approach. MIGEPROF will keep putting much efforts in sensitizing the public on strengthening the family cohesion towards human capital and sustainable development that are in line with NST1 and building a stable family; free of malnourished/stunted children, GBV, domestic violence and poverty.

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FEATURED: Highlights of MIGEPROF key achievements 2017/2018 mandate