In celebration of Women’s Month this year, over 400 women staff members from the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) gathered for a bold and reflective conversation on “Empowering Women in the Workplace & Beyond.” Organized jointly with UNDP Rwanda under the global Equanomics initiative, the event provided a timely platform to examine how fiscal institutions can play a transformative role in advancing gender equality, both within their own walls and across national economic systems.

Opening the event, Ronald Niwenshuti, Commissioner General of the Rwanda Revenue Authority, reminded attendees of the urgent need to challenge the status quo. “Together, let us break stereotypes, champion equality, and build a workplace where every woman can reach her full potential,” he said. His words struck a chord, not only because of their clarity, but because of the setting: a room full of women working in one of the country’s most powerful institutions, women who are helping shape the tax policies and systems that impact millions of lives.

Fatmata Sesay, UNDP Rwanda Resident Representative, added another layer of depth by connecting workplace equity to the broader fiscal agenda. “We remain committed to promoting gender equality in taxation, ensuring that our fiscal policies drive sustainable development and leave no one behind,” she said. Her statement captured the essence of UNDP’s Equanomics initiative: a global effort to challenge the economic structures that reinforce inequality, and to reimagine economies that truly serve all people.

This partnership between RRA and UNDP Rwanda is more than symbolic. It reflects a shared belief that fiscal systems are not gender-neutral, and that if left unchecked, they can exacerbate existing inequalities. Across the world, women face unique barriers in the economy, from the way informal sectors are taxed, to unequal access to credit, and underrepresentation in financial decision-making. These imbalances are often invisible in mainstream policy discussions, but their impact is deeply felt.

That’s why gender-responsive taxation is more than a technical reform, it’s a matter of justice. And in Rwanda, this justice is being pursued with intention. By collaborating through Equanomics, RRA and UNDP are strengthening gender accountability in tax and fiscal administration, ensuring that women’s voices and realities are part of the economic blueprint.

What stood out most during the event was the atmosphere: one of shared responsibility, pride, and resolve. Women from across the RRA were participants in shaping a conversation about their futures. Their presence and engagement echoed this year’s Women’s Month theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” It was a reminder that empowerment begins at the institutional level but must resonate throughout society.

As Rwanda celebrates 30 years since adopting the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this moment calls for more than reflection. It calls for recommitment. There is no question that Rwanda has made significant strides in advancing gender equality, especially in political representation and legal reform. But true transformation, particularly economic transformation—requires systems that are intentionally designed to include.

This is what makes the Equanomics initiative so timely and powerful. It doesn’t just spotlight gaps; it offers pathways. It asks governments and institutions to look inward, measure their own impact, and reimagine what inclusive economies can look like.

The RRA-UNDP collaboration shows that the work of gender equality doesn’t end with awareness, it begins with accountability. And as we move closer to 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the message is clear: economic justice starts with inclusive fiscal policy. For all women. For all girls. For all of us.