Kigali ,23th July,2025, The Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Equity Bank Rwanda, marking a major milestone in the national efforts to promote gender equality and strengthen the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Rwanda.

This landmark partnership aims to reinforce accountability for gender equality across both the public and private sectors and improve the quality of GBV service delivery at all levels—from national programs to grassroots interventions.

“This partnership marks a significant step in aligning the financial sector with Rwanda’s gender equality agenda. We are not only empowering women and youth economically, but also building systems of accountability that ensure no one is left behind,” Mrs. Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine, Chief Gender Monitor

 Chief Gender Monitor Umutoni Nadine 

The collaboration focuses on joint initiatives that will empower women, youth, and teenage mothers, ensuring their access to vital services such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The partnership will also promote inclusive mentorship, financial literacy, and gender-sensitive financial products, particularly for vulnerable communities.
“At Equity Bank Rwanda, we believe that true development is inclusive. This MoU reflects our deep commitment to integrating gender equality into our social investment strategyempowering women, supporting youth, and standing firmly against GBV,” Mr. Hannington Namara, Managing Director, Equity Bank Rwanda

Mr. Hannington Namara, Managing Director of Equity Bank Rwanda 

Through this MoU, GMO and Equity Bank Rwanda commit to advancing gender accountability and mainstreaming gender-responsive practices throughout the bank’s operations. The five-year agreement lays out a framework for co-creating annual action plans, mobilizing resources, and tracking impact in line with Rwanda’s national goals for gender equality and social justice.

Both institutions committed to promoting Gender Equality at all levels 

 This partnership is a clear example of how strategic collaboration between government institutions and the private sector can create transformative, inclusive change—ensuring that no one is left behind in Rwanda’s development journey.

ABOUT EQUITY BANK Rwanda
Equity Bank Rwanda began its operations in 2011 and is registered as a commercial bank by the National Bank of Rwanda. The Bank has its Head Office located in Kigali, with a foot-print of 14 branches and is supported by 2421 agents, 1074 merchants and a network of 21 ATMs.
Equity Bank Rwanda is a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings Plc, a financial services company listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock Exchange. In addition to Equity Bank Rwanda, the Group has banking subsidiaries in, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, and a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia; with additional non-banking subsidiaries engaged in the provision of investment banking, custodial, insurance agency, philanthropy, consulting, and infrastructure services.

ABOUT GMO 
Gender Monitoring Office is a government institution established by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, as outlined in Article 140, GMO’s mission is to effectively monitor gender mainstreaming and fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and related injustices to achieve gender equality in Rwanda, as it is stated in Article 6 of Law No. 51/2007 of 20/09/2007 determining the responsibilities, organization, and functioning of the Gender Monitoring Office in Rwanda