Youth Empowerment at the Core of Generation Gender Rwanda’s Flagship Intervention

Imagine a world where you can be who you want to be — a gender-just and violence-free society where young women and men can live in their full diversity. This vision is at the heart of Generation Gender (GenG), a multi-country program funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinated globally by Rutgers International, in partnership with Equimundo, Sonke Gender Justice, and ABAAD.

The program brings together seven national coalitions across Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, and Indonesia. Each coalition mobilizes young people to challenge the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV) and to advance gender justice through advocacy, movement-building, and policy influence.

The Generation Gender Rwanda Coalition

In Rwanda, the GenG coalition is led by RWAMREC, Health Development Initiative (HDI), and the African Youth and Adolescent Network (AfriYAN). Together, they place young people at the center of change, equipping them to become gender advocates and leaders. The coalition has worked through youth-led advocacy initiatives, gender-transformative training, intergenerational dialogues, and peer-to-peer debates, both online and offline.

Their long-term objectives align with the global GenG Theory of Change:

1. Public support – Mobilizing young people to champion gender justice and prevent GBV.

2. Policy change – Ensuring gender and youth-inclusive policies through government engagement.

3. Civil society strengthening – Equipping organizations with tools and evidence to advocate effectively.

Flagship Intervention in Karongi

In Karongi District, where elders traditionally dominated decision-making, youth voices were largely absent. To shift this dynamic, Generation Gender Rwanda introduced the Community Score Card (CSC) model — a participatory tool enabling communities to assess services, strengthen accountability, and improve dialogue with duty-bearers.

At the core of this initiative were Community Youth Forums (CYF), led by trained youth champions. These young leaders facilitated discussions, collected feedback, and advocated for change on pressing issues such as gender-based violence, healthcare, and education. Through biannual intergenerational dialogues, youth voices were brought directly into policy spaces.

Impact and Legacy

The results have been transformative. Over 50 youth champions from five sectors in Karongi emerged as strong advocates, reshaping power dynamics and building trust between communities and leaders. Community members reported better service delivery, improved accountability, and stronger participation of young people in decision-making.

This intervention reflects the principles of GenG — Gender Transformative Approaches, Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation, Inclusiveness, Do No Harm, and Accountability. It has shown the power of youth empowerment in advancing gender equality, strengthening civil society, and fostering resilient, inclusive communities.

As the program phases out, its legacy remains in the network of empowered youth, community structures, and partnerships that will continue driving forward the vision of a gender-just Rwanda.

Geng Rwanda's flagship intervention .pdf

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👉 A video showcasing this flagship intervention will be premiered at the Generation G Global Learning Event (F2F) in Jakarta, taking place from 29th September to 3rd October 2025, where all coalition members from across the seven countries will come together to share experiences and lessons. Follow us on our social media to know more!