As the East African gender equality initiative led by Public Services International (PSI) enters its final implementation phase, public service unions in Rwanda are stepping forward as regional exemplars of what determined, organized, and inclusive union action can achieve. Despite the project’s early conclusion—originally scheduled to run until 2027—Rwanda’s unions have demonstrated that real structural change is possible within a short window when purpose meets strategy. 

During the National Women Leadership Meeting, held 22–23 May 2025 at the CESTRAR Conference Room in Kigali, leaders from PSI-affiliated unions RNMU, SYPEPAP, and SYPELGAZ came together to consolidate gains and chart a course to sustain progress beyond donor timelines. With support from Union to Union, Kommunal, and Akademikerförbundet SSR (ASSR), the workshop reflected PSI’s ongoing commitment to building gender-just public services and democratic union structures across the region. 

Transforming Unions from Within 

What sets Rwanda apart is the level of ownership and internal transformation achieved by its unions. 

• RNMU reformed its constitution to include gender parity provisions and elected its first-ever female Executive Secretary. It also led efforts to establish breastfeeding rooms across all public health facilities, ensuring nursing mothers are supported at work. 

• SYPELGAZ shifted the gender dynamics of its technical workforce—raising women’s participation from 30% to 46%—and succeeded in electing one of its women leaders to the national union centre, increasing women’s visibility and influence across the labor movement. 

• SYPEPAP played a leading role in advancing gender budgeting frameworks within Rwanda’s public institutions. Their advocacy helped influence significant allocations, such as over RWF 237 million annually for gender-specific programs within the Rwanda Agricultural Board. The union also trained over 500 workplace actors, leading to the formation of functional gender committees nationwide. 

SYPELGAZ shifted the gender dynamics of its technical workforce—raising women’s participation from 30% to 46%

Policy Change through Union Pressure 

Unions expressed their appreciation to the Government of Rwanda for the ratification of ILO Convention 190 in 2024 a key milestone affirming workers’ rights to a workplace free from violence and harassment. Union-led advocacy also helped shape and promote the Gender Equality Seal Certification (RS 560), awarded to institutions demonstrating excellence in gender-responsive practices, with 19 organizations certified as of May 2024. 

With strong advocacy and social dialogue, unions have also contributed to institutional reforms such as operationalizing the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and securing Gender Focal Points in numerous public institutions, key mechanisms for translating gender commitments into practice. 

From Project Outputs to Movement Building 

The early end of the project has not slowed down momentum. On the contrary, Rwandan unions are proving that sustainability lies in deep ownership, strong internal governance, and shared political will. 

Across the unions, gender policies are now embedded in constitutions, collective bargaining frameworks, and monitoring tools. What began as externally supported programming has become an internalized agenda and a driving force for long-term union transformation. 

Next Steps: From Rwanda to the Region 

PSI’s strategy recognizes that achieving gender-responsive public services requires more than policy; it demands union leadership, lived experience, and structural reform. Rwanda’s unions exemplify this approach. 

As the broader project nears its conclusion, PSI will continue to amplify these gains across East Africa, leveraging lessons learned to advocate for the full ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions C190, C155, and C161 across the region.