Every Voice Counts Project (EVC)

The Every Voice Counts (EVC) project is a project which will be implemented in the 8 districts of the Southern Province, namely Muhanga, Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango, Huye, Gisagara, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru for a duration of five years, from January 2016 to December, 2020. Currently, it is implemented in Muhanga, Kamonyi, Muhanga and Nyanza districts. The project is funded by the Netherland Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through, Care Netherlands. In Rwanda, it is implemented by Care Rwanda in collaboration with Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe (PFTH).

PROJECT’S OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOMES

The project is aimed at promoting a citizen engagement and social accountability model for enhancing women participation and influence in governance processes to address gender based violence at local and National level. Specifically, the project seeks to achieve the following outcomes :

I. Grassroots women in eight districts of Rwanda are empowered to actively influence decisions that affect their lives ;
II. CARE Rwanda, in collaboration with national civil society organizations, effectively uses existing CSO platforms, including PFTH, to influence decision making on GBV policy implementation gaps on behalf of grassroots women ; and effectively supports CSO initiatives for holding local and national authorities accountable on GBV related commitments ;
III. Local leaders and duty bearers in eight Districts of Rwanda and national decision makers are responsive to and act upon the needs of grassroots women on GBV related issues ;
IV. Community members, national civil society organizations, local public authorities and the national Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) authorities effectively interact through formal and informal spaces for dialogue and negotiation leading to more inclusive decision-making.