RURAL RWANDAN GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S VISION FOR ENGENDERING POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES (SSHRC) (2009-2012)

Myriam Gervais (Project Leader) (with Claudia Mitchell, Eliane Ubalijoro, Naydene de Lange) (SSHRC)

This research project aims to identify lessons, challenges and opportunities for enhancing gender equality, and to reveal ways of rethinking current poverty strategies through the inclusion of girls and women in development processes. As such, it draws upon an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing participatory visual methodologies such as photovoice to analyze key issues through the experiences of rural girls and women, using rural Rwanda as a case study. This case study will focus on extensive analysis of gender in relation to the lives of girls and women (particularly in terms of health, economic empowerment and education) and draw attention to women’s own perspectives, helping to (a) provide insight into the challenges, desired solutions and realities they prioritize, and (b) incorporate girls’ and women’s tacit knowledge and priorities with expert opinions into development programs and poverty reduction strategies. The research findings and data gained from this particular study can provide theoretical insights for other contexts or situations which are comparable elsewhere in Africa.