Rwanda Child Rights Governance
Accountability for Children’s Rights in Rwanda Project (European Union, 2016-2018, $600,000) aimed to strengthen child focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and children’s networks to actively hold duty bearers to account for implementation of children’s rights. Child focused CSOs were supported to effectively participate in government budgeting processes at local and national level and to engage in social accountability initiatives and use international child rights mechanisms. Under this project, child rights reporting work was undertaken and children themselves developed and submitted their own complementary reports. The project was implemented in Nyarugenge and Rutsiro districts with national level interventions especially those related to advocacy.
Accountable Governance that Protects and Delivers Children’s Rights (Sida, 2017-2021, $3,500,000) aims to create a society where children enjoy their rights. This project strengthens the capacity of civil society and children to hold the Government of Rwanda to account for child rights, influence public financing to benefit children, enhance child protection systems to prevent and respond to violence against children and create change in policy, legislation and practice at both community and central levels. The project does this through capacity building of local CSOs to conduct evidence-based child rights advocacy as well as delivering quality child rights and protection interventions in the community. The project is implemented in collaboration with four local CSOs in Kirehe, Burera, Ruhango and Nyarugenge districts.
Improved Child Rights Governance in Rwanda (European Union, 2018-2021, $1,400,000) has the overall objective of advancing the realization of child rights in Rwanda through improved budget transparency and effective state engagement of citizens including children and CSOs. To achieve this, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of civil society, media and citizens, including boys and girls and those with disabilities, to hold the Government of Rwanda responsible for inclusive, responsive and transparent budget allocations. In partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the project established an Open Budget Portal to facilitate access to budget information in a digitalized, user-friendly format that facilitates easy understanding, interpretation and analysis of the budget and advocacy.
Influencing National State Accountability on the Rights of Children and Youth with Disabilities in Rwanda (Radio Aid, 2020-2021, $399,868) aimed to promote state obligations and commitments to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It built the capacity of children with disabilities on their rights and supported them to advocate for their rights. The project piloted an innovative approach to evidence-based advocacy for and by a new generation of youth and children with disabilities. This allowed children and youth to express themselves about the fulfilment of their rights at the grassroots level and enjoyment of their rights in different settings such as homes, schools, institutional care facilities and rehabilitation centers among others. The project was implemented in collaboration with local implementing partner, Uwezo Youth Empowerment, in Musanze, Kicukiro and Gasabo districts.
