Rwanda COREI Project GESI PP_ 2023

This document presents promising practices on the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in the Creating Off-farm Rwandan Enterprises (CORE) Project that was implemented in Rwanda from 2015 through 2021. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in partnership with World Vision, the Project was designed to respond to the challenges of limited access to market information and financial services for women and youth. The overall goal of the CORE Project was to significantly increase household off-farm income for women and youth in the districts of Rusizi and Nyamasheke. The project primarily targeted women and youth with interventions designed to address market failures and improve business competitiveness. Key interventions included capacity development targeting youths and women to equip them with vocational skills, strengthening of women and youth cooperatives. The CORE Project also improved access to finance by establishing, supporting, training, and empowering savings and loans groups and working with banks to provide loans to target groups. 

This documentation is based on data gathered from secondary sources such as annual reports and other Project documents, as well as reflections of key stakeholders, including Project participants, implementing partners, local government officials, and World Vision staff. Evidence suggests that the CORE Project was instrumental in improving participants’ access to vocational skills, ICT tools, digital marketing knowledge, and financial resources. This improved participants’ lives and roles at the household and community levels. The CORE Project further equipped participants with the ability to make informed decisions and opened economic opportunities, which improved their lives.