By Joyce Ojanji
The burden of unpaid care work (UCW) is a barrier to women’s economic empowerment and gender equality globally.
However, despite substantial strides that the Rwandan government has made in emancipating women, social standards are still patriarchal, with women bearing a disproportionate share of UCW obligations.
To address this, the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) -Rwanda, in collaboration with Reseau des Femmes and with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has been implementing a three-year project aimed at Assessing the Impact and Scalability of Participatory Home-grown Programs in Reducing and Redistributing Unpaid Care Work among Women in Rwanda.
A project report titled Assessing the Impact and Scalability of Participatory Home-grown Programs on Reducing and Redistributing Unpaid Care Work among Women in Rwanda assessed the impact of project interventions on redistributing and reducing UCW in the country.
This project, implemented in Rwanda’s rural settings (Musanze, Nyabihu, Burera, Gicumbi, and Rwamagana), provided evidence from both the evaluation of what works, for whom, and under what circumstances in redistribution and reducing UCW among women.
The project had two interventions: the distribution of water tanks and training programs on positive Masculinity for couples and Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy for women, and the distribution of water tanks and training programs on sexual reproductive health, family planning for couples, and entrepreneurship and financial literacy for women. The project further focused on the differentiated needs of women and marginalized groups to address power imbalances, intersectionality, and structural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality.
The report found that women spent less time on UCW since providing water tanks and training on time-saving strategies significantly reduced the time women spent on water collection (1.29 hours decrease per week) and domestic chores.
Further, the report found that the project interventions contributed to a reduction in different forms of domestic violence. Sexual violence was reduced by 4.6 pps (equivalent to a 67.6% decrease), economic-based violence was reduced by 4.3 pps (comparable to a 97.7% decrease), and psychological abuses were reduced by 5.3pps (a 27.6% decrease).
Financial education and entrepreneurship training also empowered women to start income-generating activities, contributing to their economic independence and household well-being. This was confirmed by an 18 percent increase in wives’ contribution to family income.
Moreover, the report highlights that the project achieved its objective by helping the couples live harmoniously and share care work responsibilities. It raised income opportunities for mothers who would otherwise spend their time solely on UCW.
The interventions have also contributed to enhancing women’s involvement in decision-making and participation in income-generating activities and have significantly reduced gender-based violence in households.
However, the report recommends that since Rwanda has made significant strides in promoting gender equality through various policies and programs, building on these initiatives and integrating the study findings can further enhance efforts to reduce UCW and empower women.
Also, supporting and strengthening women’s organizations can be crucial in advocating women’s rights, providing training and resources, and facilitating collective action to address UCW and other gender-related challenges.
Additionally, continuous monitoring and evaluation of programs and policies aimed at reducing UCW and empowering women are essential to assess their impact, identify areas for improvement, and ensure accountability.
The report recommends that coordinated efforts among governments, NGOs, and development partners are crucial to address the unequal distribution of UCW, where women bear a disproportionate burden compared to men. Governments should enact policy reforms such as parental leave and flexible work arrangements, accompanied by financial incentives to promote gender-balanced caregiving.
