The event, hosted by the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) at Mövenpick Kigali, is part of the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative, an annual, worldwide event that takes place around International Women’s Day to spotlight how financial markets can advance gender equality.
Speaking at the ceremony, RSE CEO Pierre-Célestin Rwabukumba emphasised that gender equality is central to Rwanda’s development.
“When women rise, economies rise. When women succeed, societies prosper. Investing in women is not charity, it is nation-building,” he said.
This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” reflects the need for measurable progress and collective responsibility to achieve equality.
Rwabukumba noted that stock exchanges are more than trading platforms. “They shape corporate behaviour, mobilise investment, and promote transparency and good governance. Inclusive capital markets lead to stronger economies,” he said.
The RSE boss added that companies with gender-diverse leadership perform better and that women’s access to finance drives innovation and entrepreneurship, aligning with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the ambitions of the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).
“If we educate women, we educate a nation,” he remarked, adding, “At 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.”
Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, highlighted persistent gaps in women’s participation in Rwanda’s 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.
“To bridge the gap, we do not only pledge, but we will act,” she said, urging financial institutions, development partners, and private sector actors to develop actionable roadmaps for women’s economic transformation.
Romeo Ngarambe, CEO of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), stressed the multiplier effect of empowering women.
“When you empower a woman, you empower her children, her household, her community,” he said, urging capital markets to open doors for women entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders.
Ngarambe added that financial literacy, investor education, and products designed with women in mind are critical steps toward inclusive markets.
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.
As Marie Claire Dushimumukiza of the UN Global Compact noted, “Progress requires more than intention; it requires accelerated action, leadership, and accountability. It signals that markets matter in advancing gender equality.”
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.
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’s commitment to inclusive growth.
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