Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) is a national humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to promotion and improvement of the socio-economic welfare of women in Rwanda since coming to being in 1997. Over time, the organization has dedicated its efforts to strategies that empower women and has extensive experience in fostering women’s participation and grassroots responses to community challenges. To date, RWN works with various local and international partners, and plays a capacity building and facilitating role to a network of over 52 grassroots associations across the country. The RWN is the recipient of two international awards, namely, the 2007 UN-Habitat Dubai International Award in “recognition of best practices to improve the living environment” for child-headed households and genocide widows and their families. The second award is the 2006 UNDP/UNAIDS Red Ribbon Award themed “Celebrating Community Leadership and Action on Aids”. To date, RWN’s target group includes: survivors of the 1994 Tutsi genocide, victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as other vulnerable groups including poor and vulnerable women, children and people living with HIV/Aids. Overall, the RWN supports and works with over 52 grassroots associations and cooperatives that cater for over 4,000 people each within their communities in thirteen districts in Rwanda. The Districts include Muhanga and Huye in Southern Province, Musanze and Gakenke in the Northern Province, Gatsibo and Bugesera in the Eastern Province, and Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro in Kigali City.
