Social protection programmes are considered HIV-sensitive when they address risk, vulnerability, or impact of HIV infection (van der Wal et al., 2021) or they help mitigate the significant social and economic impacts of HIV on households and individuals, and increase access to prevention, treatment, care, and support for people affected by and vulnerable to HIV (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2016). HIV-sensitive social protection also refers to the degree to which people living with, at risk of or affected by HIV are considered and included in the design and implementation of social protection schemes and systems (WFP, 2021). HIV-sensitive social protection has been recognized as a critical enabler of the AIDS response by reducing HIV risks, mitigating their impacts, and increasing the capacity of households to cope and respond to the risks. The findings of this study will help the government of Rwanda through RBC and its development partners to enhance access to social protection for PLHIV for improved food security, nutrition status and well-being.

In January 2020, UNICEF, WFP and FAO, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, launched the Joint Programme to support and accelerate the Government of Rwanda’s efforts for integrated social protection to end poverty in all its forms, leaving no one behind. The intention was to provide innovative solutions for identified gaps at policy/strategic, system and community levels, accelerating results as envisaged in the national Social Protection Strategic Plan (2018-2024) and the national Joint Multisectoral Action Plan to Eradicate Extreme Poverty and defining leveraging mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the agenda 2030. UNICEF as the lead agency for the JP is responsible for commissioning and managing an independent evaluation with the UN RCO, in collaboration with other Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs). Southern Hemisphere has partnered with Educational Consulting Success (ECOS LTD) to conduct a final evaluation of the UN Joint Programme (UNJP). The evaluation focused on the extent to which the programme results were achieved and gaps; the extent of alignment of the programme with the national social protection policy and strategic plan; and use this assessment, lessons learned, good practices and innovations for possible replication or scale up in other sectors/districts in Rwanda.

Through Home Grown Initiatives (HGIs), the country has experienced various community mobilization approaches like Itorero (national academy) community health workers (CHWs), Youth volunteers, ingando (solidarity camp) umushyikirano (national dialogue) ,Imihigo, Abunzi, and Gacaca, among others. Nevertheless, citizens like young people, women, and people with disabilities need more empowerment to play a substantial role in the development of the country. In order to enhance the community mobilization and citizens’ participation, MINALOC in partnership with GIZ through GOPA Worldwide Consultants commissioned the development of a Community Mobilization Strategy (CMS) to support the implementation of its Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and contribute to the NST1, guiding interventions aimed at promoting citizen participation towards sustainable socio-economic development The overall aim of the assignment is to develop a community mobilization strategy in close cooperation with the sector’s key stakeholders to mobilize, support communities to create demand for comprehensive services, helping them to express their needs and demand for appropriate quality social, economic development aspects

The EU funded project was implemented by MRGI in partnership with Minority Rights Group Africa (MRGA), African Initiative for Mankind Progress Organization (AIMPO) and Women ‘organization for Promoting Unity (WOPU). The project aimed at contributing to the elimination of discrimination against Historically Marginalized Peoples (HMPs) in Rwanda by empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and the Media so that they would be able to effectively defend and promote their human rights”. In order to achieve this, the action strengthened the capacity of CSOs, HRDs and Media to effectively challenge discrimination and advocate for greater respect and promotion of the rights (political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights) of HMPs through a number of trainings and advocacy campaigns at local, national and international levels.

As part of its mandate, RGB partnered with Palladium Rwanda so as to conduct evidence based impact evaluation of IREMBO and document key lessons for future. IREMBO (means the gateway) is Rwanda’s e-Government portal program designed to enable citizens to access the public service provided in a simpler, creative, and unique way. Through combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, ECOS team carried out an impact of Irembo services and documented the good practices, challenges and formulated evidence based recommendations aiming at improving services delivered to the citizens.

From May to July 2018, the team of ECOS LTD in collaboration with RGB, carried out the Impact assessment of Abunzi Committees (Mediators) on the community since 2004-2018.

ECOS team member supported the Implementation of Ndi Hano project (Here I am) under IfE(Innovation for Education projects), 2013-2014

Reviewed and finalized the training manual” Dufatanye Umurimo”. Manual designed for Interchurches committees

ECOS team member facilitated the training of 180 JADF (Joint Action Development Forums) facilitators in all 30 districts. This training included the Local Government, CSO, Private sector representatives for a coordinated and harmonized interventions for a sustainable development.