Dergiler / Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 1

A Multidimensional Approach to Women’s Empowerment in Rwanda: What is Missing?

Mehmet Zanbak(Akdeniz Üniversitesi İİBF Ekonometri Bölümü)0000-0002-9838-9063
E. Nur Sezek(Externado University of Colombia)0000-0003-3399-5721
Sezer Soycan(DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-7707-9173
Sayfa
—
Yayın Tarihi
2026-03-30
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⚡ TL;DR(1 Cümlede Hızlı Çıkarım)

The findings suggest that the primary obstacles to women’s empowerment arise from the dimensions of individual agency and the prevalence of violence, particularly in rural areas.

📌 3 Maddede Bu Makale

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Amaç & Hipotez:Historically, Rwanda is a rural country where agriculture is the main economic activity of the population.
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Temel Bulgular & Veri:Gender inequality in the country was one of the main problems prior to 1994 genocide.
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Sonuç & Katkı:The findings suggest that the primary obstacles to women’s empowerment arise from the dimensions of individual agency and the prevalence of violence, particularly in rural areas.
🔬Tür:Uygulamalı Anket & Alan Araştırması
📍Kapsam:2013 Verileri
⚙️Değişkenler:Women’s Empowerment · Multidimensional Measurement · Deprivation

Abstract

Historically, Rwanda is a rural country where agriculture is the main economic activity of the population. Gender inequality in the country was one of the main problems prior to 1994 genocide. The Rwandan genocide had a devastating impact on the society, with women bearing the brunt of the violence and upheaval. In the years following the genocide, the Rwandan government has made concerted efforts to empower women and promote their participation in political and economic spheres. This study aims to investigate women’s empowerment situation in Rwanda by creating a multidimensional empowerment index. For this purpose, the method analysed in Alkire et al. (2013) was applied, using data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2019–2020 (NISR, MOH, & ICF, 2021) which covers both rural and urban populations, to explore the barriers to women’s empowerment in the aftermath of the genocide. The analysis reveals that many women, especially in rural areas, continue to face significant disadvantages and obstacles to their empowerment. The findings suggest that the primary obstacles to women’s empowerment arise from the dimensions of individual agency and the prevalence of violence, particularly in rural areas.

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Bu Makaleye Atıf Yap

Zanbak, M., Sezek, E. N., Soycan, S., Oğuz, C. U. (2026). A Multidimensional Approach to Women’s Empowerment in Rwanda: What is Missing?. Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty, Volume: 13 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.30798/makuiibf.1706087

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