Rwanda Lawmakers Seek Evidence-Based Budgets

Why this is here: Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies currently includes women in nearly 64 percent of its seats, making it the global leader in women’s parliamentary representation.

Members of Parliament in Rwanda are urging greater use of evidence and gender analysis when creating public budgets. The discussion occurred during a forum organized by the Forum for Women Parliamentarians and the UNDP Rwanda at Parliament on Thursday, May 21. Participants emphasized gender-responsive budgeting should address needs, not simply divide resources equally.

UNDP Resident Representative Fatmata Lovetta Sesay noted Rwanda leads the world with women holding roughly 64% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Despite progress in representation, officials acknowledge challenges remain in fully realizing gender equality. Silas Ngayaboshya of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion highlighted how social norms limit opportunities for both women and men.

Economist Johnson Bosco Rukundo explained that effective gender budgeting requires assessing actual demand, not just equal distribution. Lawmakers noted that while institutions now submit gender budget statements, execution rates—around 80 to 85% for the current fiscal year—do not guarantee quality analysis.

Follow-up on annual gender audits also remains a concern. The work to improve budgeting and implementation continues.