Analysis of National Social Protection Strategies in Rwanda's Musanze District: gender, risks, and vulnerabilities

Rwanda’s Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) supports households experiencing poverty and vulnerability, yet poverty and gender inequalities remain in Musanze District. This study examines how VUP and the National Social Protection Policy respond to these challenges. Guided by intersectionality and social risk management, the study analysed 52 documents published between 2015 and 2025 using qualitative content analysis. The review included NISR evidence showing that 41 per cent of VUP beneficiary households nationally lived in poverty in 2023/24. It also identified unequal caregiving responsibilities among women and breadwinner pressures and unemployment risks among men. Rural distance and differences in program implementation were identified as barriers to accessing social protection and related services. Three underexamined issues emerged: men’s vulnerabilities, unpaid care following social-protection interventions and rural implementation gaps. The study recommends employment and livelihood support, care-responsive public works, locally adapted delivery, and monitoring disaggregated by sex, vulnerability status and location.