Gender-based statistics is vital in planning for economic development, a gender expert has said.

The call was made by Gad Runezerwa of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion during a recent brainstorming session between the gender ministry and other stake holders.

The meeting held in collaboration with the African Development Bank (ADB), was called to map-out strategies on how to encourage the use of gender-based data in planning.

"The emphasis will be put where the problem lies. This will also help in the implementation of Economic Development Strategy (EDPRS),” Runezerwa said.

The president of the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP), Spéciose Mukandutiye (above), recently made the same call arguing that gender equality …”should be given priority in the national budget in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”

Current statistics indicate that 73 percent of women live in the urban areas, while 27 percent live in rural areas. And, that most women are engaged in food processing.

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