Conceptualising Gender Equality in Rwanda through the Lenses of Different Actors

The aim of this paper is to examine how key actors implementing Rwanda’s National Gender Policy conceptualise gender equality within local contexts. Using purposive sampling, 38 participants from government, nongovernmental organisations and community-based organisations were interviewed across five districts in Rwanda. Thematic analysis indicates that within the Rwandan context, gender equality is conceptualised as a socially constructed concept, articulated through notions of legal parity, moral partnership, empowerment, and gender complementarity. While conceptual plurality represents both a strength and a constraint, it also creates inconsistencies in implementation. The study recommends clarifying definitional frameworks linking rights, empowerment, and complementarity, and aligning policy guidance with culturally grounded, power-sensitive approaches to foster equitable transformation.