United Nations Under-Secretary General and UN Women Executive Director Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka visited Rwanda to participate in the 3rd edition of the Transform Africa Summit which has become a landmark forum on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the continent, gathering around 4,000 participants.

Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, acknowledged that Rwanda is arguably a step forward when it comes to inclusive economy where both men and women are equally involved in impacting the country’s economic progress. As she was addressing the farmers of the Cooperative des Cultivateurs de Mais (COOPCUMA) in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province, she commended the achievements of the cooperative, which is led by a woman, in using the “Buy From Women” platform. The platform is an innovative, data-driven, mobile enabled supply chain system that connects women farmers to information, finance and markets.

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka hailed Rwanda’s incredible political will which moved the country a step ahead in terms of gender promotion and was impressed of the confidence placed into women in regards to the contribution towards the country’s development.

“Rwanda made outstanding achievements during the Millenium Development Goals and we have no doubt that the country will keep the same pace with the Sustainable Development Goals because of the foresight of the leadership.

We have been truly moved by the extent to which not only did we see women in Rwanda take a strong leadership representation in the country but also becoming solution providers to the issues that affect many parts of the world, and having a woman heading such an effective cooperative is yet another example of how women can make a change in the development of a country” she said.

Led by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Ms Esperance Nyirasafari, the Executive Director Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka, the UN Women Regional Director Ms Izeduwa Derex-Briggs, UN Women country representatives Ann Githuku Shongwe (South Africa), Clara Anyangwe (Malawi) and Fatou Lo (Rwanda) visited the Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Family Center in Nyagatovu, Kayonza District. The centre is a prototype model for community based services that promotes the holistic development of children aged between 3 to 6 years. It is an initiative of the Imbuto Foundation supported by the United Nations in Rwanda.