{"id":2000105641,"date":"2026-03-16T22:33:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T20:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000105641"},"modified":"2026-03-17T00:13:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T22:13:26","slug":"rse-rings-the-bell-for-gender-equality-as-leaders-urge-womens-economic-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rse-rings-the-bell-for-gender-equality-as-leaders-urge-womens-economic-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"RSE rings the bell for gender equality as leaders urge women\u2019s economic inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) at M\u00f6venpick Kigali, is part of the \u201cRing the Bell for Gender Equality\u201d initiative, an annual, worldwide event that takes place around International Women\u2019s Day to spotlight how financial markets can advance gender equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the ceremony, RSE CEO Pierre-C\u00e9lestin Rwabukumba emphasised that gender equality is central to Rwanda\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen women rise, economies rise. When women succeed, societies prosper. Investing in women is not charity, it is nation-building,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) atM\u00f6venpick Kigali, is part of the \u201cRing the Bell for Gender Equality\u201d initiative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s theme, \u201cRights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,\u201d reflects the need for measurable progress and collective responsibility to achieve equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rwabukumba noted that stock exchanges are more than trading platforms. \u201cThey shape corporate behaviour, mobilise investment, and promote transparency and good governance. Inclusive capital markets lead to stronger economies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RSE boss added that companies with gender-diverse leadership perform better and that women\u2019s access to finance drives innovation and entrepreneurship, aligning with Rwanda\u2019s Vision 2050 and the ambitions of the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we educate women, we educate a nation,\u201d he remarked, adding, \u201cAt the Rwanda Stock Exchange, we strongly believe that inclusive capital markets lead to stronger economies. When companies promote gender diversity in leadership, they perform better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Speaking at the ceremony, RSE CEO Pierre-C\u00e9lestin Rwabukumba emphasized that gender equality is central to Rwanda\u2019s development.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consol\u00e9e Uwimana, highlighted persistent gaps in women\u2019s participation in Rwanda\u2019s private sector, despite the country leading in political decision-making, with women holding 64% of parliamentary seats. While women occupy 32% of decision-making positions and own 34% of businesses, their representation remains low in sectors such as transport, construction, and mining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo bridge the gap, we do not only pledge, but we will act,\u201d she said, urging financial institutions, development partners, and private sector actors to develop actionable roadmaps for women\u2019s economic transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consol\u00e9e Uwimana, highlighted persistent gaps in women\u2019s participation in Rwanda\u2019s private sector, despite the country leading in political decision-making.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Romeo Ngarambe, CEO of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), stressed the multiplier effect of empowering women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you empower a woman, you empower her children, her household, her community,\u201d he said, urging capital markets to open doors for women entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ngarambe added that financial literacy, investor education, and products designed with women in mind are critical steps toward inclusive markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Global partners, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), UN Women, and the UN Global Compact, reaffirmed the importance of leadership, accountability, and accelerated action to close the global gender financing gap, estimated at over $360 billion annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Marie Claire Dushimumukiza of the UN Global Compact noted, \u201cProgress requires more than intention; it requires accelerated action, leadership, and accountability. It signals that markets matter in advancing gender equality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A highlight of the event was an awards ceremony, recognising outstanding achievements in finance and financial literacy. Hortense Mudenge, CEO of KIFC, was honoured as the 2026 Women Achiever in Finance, while students from Gashora Girls Academy, part of the Gashora NexGen Investors Program, were recognised for their efforts in financial literacy, receiving a cash prize of 2 million Rwandan francs to support their journey as future investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students from the Gashora Girls Academy received a cash prize of 2 million Rwandan francs to support their journey as future investors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony concluded with the symbolic ringing of the bell by the Guest of Honour alongside representatives from RSE, IFC, UN Women, and UN Global Compact, marking the opening of economic opportunities for women in Rwanda and reinforcing the nation\u2019s commitment to inclusive growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) atM\u00f6venpick Kigali, is part of the \u201cRing the Bell for Gender Equality\u201d initiative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Representatives from various institutions, including security agencies, attended the event.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rwanda joined stock exchanges around the world on Monday to ring the bell for gender equality, a symbolic gesture highlighting the critical role of business and finance in promoting women\u2019s participation in the economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000105652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000105641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"featured_image":{"id":2000105652,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":600,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","width":150,"height":100},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","width":300,"height":200},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","width":600,"height":400},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","width":600,"height":400},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MixCollage-16-Mar-2026-10-36-PM-6921.jpg","width":600,"height":400}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000105641"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000105660,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105641\/revisions\/2000105660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000105652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000105641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000105641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000105641"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000105641"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000105641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}