19 local organizations to watch: Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre

The Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre, or RWAMREC, promotes gender equity and prevents gender-based violence by focusing on positive masculinity. For example, its flagship Bandebereho program involves community health workers facilitating 17 sessions with men and couples with young children to promote positive men’s engagement in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, violence prevention, and caregiving. Their other programs — such as Baho, While Gen G, and Gewep — have similar goals.

It promotes gender equity from an important lens: men. Rwanda is also an interesting case study given the country’s strong representation of women in leadership positions, including in parliament. However, cultural norms still impede opportunities for true gender equity.

Rwanda, with a second office in the Central African Republic.