RWAMREC Q2 2026 Newsletter: Scaling Impact for Gender Equality

RWAMREC’s April–June 2026 quarterly newsletter is now available, highlighting a quarter of significant progress, growing partnerships, and expanding impact across Rwanda.

From the continued national scale-up of Bandebereho to new work in refugee camps, financial empowerment, health, youth engagement, and community-based GBV prevention, Q2 was a period of both reaching more people and strengthening the systems that support lasting change.

Highlights from Q2 2026

Bandebereho continued to scale and deepen its impact, reaching 13,678 parents during the quarter and 17,484 cumulatively in 2026. Through their parents, the programme also reached 15,091 children, including 7,968 children under five. An impact evaluation in Burera District found a 52.5% reduction in intimate partner violence among participating households. RWAMREC and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre also upgraded their MOU to formalise Bandebereho’s national scale-up.

Across the organisation, 61,866 people were reached through awareness activities during Q2, bringing the 2026 total to 443,504. RWAMREC also trained 2,031 individuals on gender equality and GBV prevention and 1,658 couples through Journey of Transformation and Gender Transformative Approaches.

Kataza expanded its work with communities and refugee populations, including its first GTA trainings inside four refugee camps. Gender-equitable attitudes among Journey of Transformation couples increased from 58.0% to 85.2% in pre- and post-assessments.

Meanwhile, Twubakane Season 2 reached 2,400 couples through a rigorous randomized controlled trial using radio drama to explore whether edutainment can shift attitudes around gender norms and intimate partner violence.

Shora Neza also reached 2,502 participants between January and June, representing 97% of its target, with significant improvements in gender-norm attitudes and joint household income decision-making.

Beyond Rwanda, RWAMREC continued to contribute to global conversations on men, care, gender equality, women's political participation, feminist movements, and localised funding, with team members participating in events and platforms in Brazil, Ethiopia and Zambia.

As we look ahead, RWAMREC's priorities include advancing Bandebereho's nationwide scale-up, launching a new male-engagement project in Kiziba Refugee Camp, developing the Regional Hub on Male Allyship and Positive Masculinities, strengthening evidence and learning systems, and continuing to address GBV and harmful gender norms.

Read the full April–June 2026 newsletter for more stories, programme updates, results, partnerships, and opportunities to connect.