Gender Equality in Action: Childcare program enables mothers to work on nature-based solutions in Kigali

As part of the SUNCASA project, AVEGA Agahozo implemented a childcare program at tree nurseries in Kigali, Rwanda, for children aged 9 to 35 months. The initiative addresses barriers to women's participation in nature-based solutions (NbS) by providing safe, on-site care through a rotation of parents and caregivers. The program includes early childhood development training for parents and the creation of toys from recycled materials, aiming to increase the productivity of mothers and ensure the safety and development of their children.

• The SUNCASA project aims for at least 50% of community members engaged in its activities to be women or individuals from underrepresented groups across its sites in Kigali, Dire Dawa, and Johannesburg.
• In Kigali, AVEGA Agahozo established a childcare program for children aged 9 to 35 months at tree nurseries to remove the burden on mothers who previously struggled to balance work with child safety, often leaving children unsupervised near nurseries.
• The program's implementation included a 3-day early childhood development (ECD) training for parents on child development and responsive caregiving, as well as the creation of management committees to oversee daily operations.
• To ensure operational safety and quality, the program provided first-aid training by medical staff, established a rotation schedule for caregivers, and required caregivers to sign a code of conduct.

APA

Agahozo,, T. N. ,. M. F. A. (2026). Gender Equality in Action: Childcare program enables mothers to work on nature-based solutions in Kigali. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/gender-equality-action-childcare-program-enables-mothers-work-nature-based

Chicago

Agahozo,, Theogene NIYIRORA ,Christian MUHIRWA, from Avega. Gender Equality in Action: Childcare program enables mothers to work on nature-based solutions in Kigali. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/gender-equality-action-childcare-program-enables-mothers-work-nature-based.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Agahozo, |first1=Theogene NIYIRORA ,Christian MUHIRWA, from Avega |title=Gender Equality in Action: Childcare program enables mothers to work on nature-based solutions in Kigali |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=10 March 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/gender-equality-action-childcare-program-enables-mothers-work-nature-based |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{agahozo2026gender, author = {Agahozo,, Theogene NIYIRORA ,Christian MUHIRWA, from Avega}, title = {{Gender Equality in Action: Childcare program enables mothers to work on nature-based solutions in Kigali}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/gender-equality-action-childcare-program-enables-mothers-work-nature-based}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }