Why Rwanda?

Rwanda models a political commitment to gender equality and to promoting women’s empowerment in the Great Lakes region, Africa, and around the world. But there is still work to do…

While we are open to working with other degree programs that take a feminist approach to gender and development and are committed to access for women of all walks of life (program directors should contact us here), we have begun our scholarship making in Rwanda because of our direct connections to the program on Gender, Culture, and Development and the importance of ensuring that all women have access to this program—unique to Sub-Saharan African beyond South Africa). 

Rwanda models a political commitment to gender equality and to promoting women’s empowerment in the Great Lakes region, Africa, and around the world.  Despite Rwanda’s gender sensitive legislation and high female parliamentary representation, there are still gaps between theory, policy and practice (implementation). Gender inequalities are still found in socio-cultural, economic and political contexts, and affect Rwandan, regional and global development.

The Master’s Program in Social Sciences (Gender & Development) is therefore meant to equip students with analytical and conceptual skills needed to understand and address gender issues in different development contexts. it will enable graduates to participate effectively in research, policymaking, and the development of Rwanda, East Africa, and beyond.