Women face inferior job and income opportunities across the globe, compared to men. In Rwanda, disadvantages in education, skills development, and opportunity previously limited the ability of women to participate in the labor market and to access more productive jobs, yet they represent more than 51% of the population and play a crucial role in the development of society at all levels. 

 In 2021, Spark Microgrants, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and with the support of the World Bank, launched the Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE) project. The project aims to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty, through the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP). The project strengthens participatory planning and citizen engagement in government processes, by training local government officials on FCAP tools. It also supports villages to lead their development and increase citizen capacity, self-reliance, confidence, financial literacy, and project management, and develop a framework for a national-scale roll-out of FCAP - the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning, by working with the central government’s policy makers. 

 With the FCAP meeting, women’s attendance and participation in village meetings increased. In the 249 communities benefiting from the ACE project, women attend meetings at 35%, and their participation in the meetings at 61%.  

 Women participate in engaging discussions, ask questions, and guide the conversation with men to make their voices heard and their perspectives and ideas understood. Evans Niyitegeka, a resident of Busoro Village, Gishamvu Sector, in Huye District, was given a pig, but after several attempts, she realised that it wasn't mating while other people's pigs were. When she realized there was a problem, she worked with the village committee to assist her in selling it so that she could get another pig. 

 "The committee heard my problem as some other members were experiencing similar difficulties. The pig was sold and replaced with the one that was able to produce. Today, I am pleased that I am making a profit: I care for my pig, and I have fertilizers to use in my fields and I produce enough agricultural products,” Evans said. 

 "I am healthy because I eat well. When I plant crops like potatoes and vegetables, they grow and produce good yields. I previously owned a cow at home but gave it to my newlywed son and told him he could use the cow dung as manure.” 

 Evans noted that when she learned about the Spark Microgrants project, she was fortunate to receive a pig because she regularly attended FCAP meetings. Her family does not go hungry anymore. 

 "I applaud our government for seriously considering development initiatives and bringing them to the population. I'm also grateful to Spark since it does not discriminate against anyone based on their socioeconomic status; even those who previously did not receive assistance now do,” she concluded. 

 Laurence Nyiramahano, a 64-year-old woman in Ruhanga Cell, Busengo Sector, in Gakenke District, never misses FCAP meetings. Nyiramahano said that women and men complement each other, and it is good that they share thoughts and ideas during the meetings.   

 "During the FCAP meetings, everyone is allowed to share their thoughts regardless of their gender, or age. In the past, it was difficult for women to speak up in public. Those who did were considered stubborn and disrespectful. But after electing Kagame, our President, women were empowered,” she said. 

Valentine Mukarukundo, the Socio-Economic Development Officer (SEDO) of Ruhanga Cell, said that in Rwanda, women play a direct role in public decision-making. 

 "Women are allowed to work everywhere nowadays. We have equal participation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making, thanks to our President. My mother is happy for me. When I was working as a SEDO in my neighborhood, my mom saw me doing mobilization in a community and she smiled. She was proud to have a child who has become a leader,” Mukarukundo said. 

Apollinarie Ntamfurayishyari, a resident in Busengo Sector said that before the FCAP meetings women were not allowed to speak in public and express their thoughts like women. She’s thankful to the Government of Unity led by President Kagame that gave space for women to speak. 

 Appolinarie Ntamfurayishyari, 44, also said that during the FCAP meetings, women are given space to speak.  

 "Women ask questions about what they don't understand. They are also encouraged to participate by sharing their ideas and thoughts and men are very supportive. Today, we ask questions about what they don't understand. We attend meetings and share our thoughts like our husbands do. Men support us as we support them during meetings” said Apollinarie. 

 Denyse Nyirandikubwimana, a resident of Nyabizi II Cell in Kinyababa Sector, Burera District, said that Spark made her feel more comfortable speaking up during the meetings. 

 "FCAP meetings encourage women about having confidence. I am now the one to decide my future. By giving ideas in the meeting, we learned that microgrants aren’t an asset in themselves; rather that we use them to make profits,” she stressed confidently. 

 She noted that before the FCAP meeting, it was not easy to speak up more in the community. She recognized that Spark Microgrants allowed men and women to express their ideas at the same level.  

 "Men and women have the same rights. I am proud of what Spark is doing because even after the first few days we have a high degree of transparency.” 

 On gender equality and empowering women, Gervais Niringiyimana, a resident of Nyabizi II Cell, Kinyababa Sector, said that he is very happy seeing women sharing their thoughts in the FCAP meetings.  

 "In the past, it was hard for women to speak up in meetings. Spark taught us to be self-confident. There is no difference between men and women,” he said. 

 "We had many old women who were isolated from society. They started attending weekly FCAP meetings. One example is a woman who is 90 years old. She didn't attend meetings because of a lack of confidence,” he added. 

 Kawera Violette, a resident of Murambi Sector, in Rulindo District, said that before the FCAP meetings, some women did not have the right to join others in groups. "After training, women felt more confident to join groups and they are happy to save in the same group with men.”

Epiphanie Zaninka, a resident of Mbatabata Cell in Kamubuga Sector, Gakenke District, stated that before the Spark model, agricultural productivity in her two fields ranged between 50 kilos and 100 kilos. 

"With the support of Spark, I was able to obtain fertilizers and increase crop production from 200 kilos to 300 kilos after implementing selected projects."