Aimee Marie Ange TUMUKUNDE

Growing cooperative: Gender Factor (Case of RWANDA)

Growing cooperative: Gender Factor (Case of RWANDA)

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Plan

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I. General Context (1)3

The Government of Rwanda recognizes the need of promoting

gender equality as part of its strategy for poverty reduction

and realization of vision 2020. This political will was

materialized not only by ratifying of international conventions

and agreements such as the CEDAW, MDGs especially MDG 3

but also by putting in place various institutions such as

Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, National Women

Council, Gender Monitoring Office and many other local NGOs

for women empowerment and advocacy. The GoR also

developed policies and strategies for this purpose.

I. General Context (2)4

As illustrated in the Vision 2020, The Constitution of

the Republic of Rwanda of 04 June 2003 and EDPRS,

gender is a cross-cutting issue. This implies that

gender need to be considered in all sectors to

ensure that gender equality is promoted. Rwanda

has set a target of achieving equity in education and

having 50% of women in non-farming employment

and 50% of women in the parliament by 2015 (MDG

Country Report, 2010).

I. General context (3)5

The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 04 June 2003 also legislates for at least 30% of all members of the cabinet, judges and members of public and private bodies to be women.

If there is a good progress in some areas such as those mentioned above, there remain challenges to monitor the progress on gender equality in other critical socio-economic areas. Agriculture, employment and private sector have been targeted by the strategic plan for the implementation of the national gender policy to increase economic opportunities for both women and men.

I. General Context (4)6

To address this issue, Cooperatives have played a significant role in Rwanda’s socioeconimic transformation as evidenced in the national development agenda (Vision 2020). In the Vision, the Government is convinced that Cooperatives will contribute enormous social benefits to citizens.

Indeed, the Government of Rwanda views Cooperatives as a potential vehicle through which the Cooperatives members could create employment and expand access to income-generating activities, develop their business potential, including entrepreneurial and managerial capacities through education and training; increase savings and investment, and improve social well-being with special emphasis on gender equality, housing, education, health care and community development.

II. Inception of cooperative policy and legal frame work (7)

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The enactment of the Cooperative Policy was a strong Government commitment to the cooperative sector, a true recognition of the importance of cooperatives in job creation, mobilizing resources, generating investment and their contribution to the economy, and also enhancing social inclusion.

Law n° 50/2007 of 18/09/2007 determines the establishment, organization and functioning of Cooperative Organizations in the country. The law obliges Cooperative Organizations to respond to the needs of their members who are entitled to equal participation and share.

The Law also constitutes the structure of cooperative movement in Rwanda, including Primary Cooperatives, Unions of Cooperatives, Federations and Confederation.

NCCRNCCR

FEDERATION

UNION

FEDERATION FEDERATION

UNION UNION UNION UNION UNION UNION UNION UNION

C C C C C C C CC C C C C C C C CC C C C C C C C C

STRUCTURE OF COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN RWANDA

C

III. Participation of women in cooperatives (9)

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Activity Number

Male % Female % Total member

AGRI 1740 132 012 54,3 111 051 45,7 243 063

LIVESTOCK 887 27 638 53,8 23 743 46,2 51 381

SERVICE 741 20 346 51,9 14 516 42,1 34 862

HANDCRAFT 773 15 269 47,9 16 570 52,1 31 839

TRADING 669 19 055 50,4 18 722 49,6 37 777

MINING 105 1 834 70,4 771 29,6 2 605

FISHING 82 2 525 64,8 1 372 35,2 3 897

OTHER COOPS 107 3 009 52,9 2 835 48,1 5 844

Sub Total 5104 286068 52,1 244086 47,9 530254

III. Participationof women in cooperative (9)

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Activity Number

Male % Female

% Total member

UMURENGE

SACCOs 416  1,029,597  57,7%  754929  42.3% 1,784525

Other SACCOs 49  168,659  57.4  125,024  42.6 293683

TOTAL 5569  1,485,124 56.4 1,123,339 43.6 2 578 462

IV. Conclusion and recommendations (10)

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Women contribute immensely to the national economy in addition to reproductive activities and community work. The income obtained is mainly used on meeting family food, health and education needs.There are two windows that can be used as tools to reinforce the emancipation of women : these include being lead woman and being member of cooperative. In development of policies and programs by public and private stakeholders, it’s very important to have a particular attention on gender activities such as programs related to access on trainings opportunities, access to financial services, etc.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION