Addressing the UPR on Wednesday, Rwanda's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, said that in 2022, 165,000 jobs were created, followed by 352,000 in 2023 and 430,000 in 2024, as part of the country's ongoing efforts to expand employment opportunities, particularly for youth, and to promote inclusive economic growth. Specialised training programs and skills development initiatives also trained over 27,000 people during the same period.
The UPR, a peer review mechanism established by the United Nations, provides a platform for countries to report on progress in human rights and socio-economic development. Rwanda's fourth cycle, held on January 21, 2026, highlighted achievements since the previous review in January 2021, including progress in employment, education, health, and social protection.
Dr. Ugirashebuja detailed other key indicators that reflect Rwanda's rapid recovery and development since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Access to electricity increased from 4.3 percent in 2006 to 72 percent in 2024, while improved drinking water coverage rose from 70 percent in 2006 to 90 percent in 2024. Life expectancy improved from 49 years in 1994 to nearly 70 years in 2024. Access to financial services expanded from 21 percent in 2008 to 94 percent in 2024.
On social protection, Rwanda has reduced national poverty from 39.8 percent in 2017 to 27.4 percent in 2024, lifting about 1.5 million people out of poverty. Extreme poverty also fell from 11.3 percent to 5.4 percent over the same period. The Vision Umurenge Program currently supports over 1.2 million vulnerable beneficiaries with monthly cash transfers, while the Imibereho Dynamic Social Registry now tracks more than 3.5 million households nationwide.
Rwanda's delegation also highlighted progress in education and health. Gross enrollment for children aged 3 to 17 rose from 79.6 percent in 2022â€"2023 to 92.1 percent in 2023â€"2024, and net enrollment increased from 53 percent to nearly 60 percent. In health, under-5 mortality declined from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2020 to 36 in 2025, while maternal care coverage remains high, with 95 percent of women receiving at least one antenatal visit and 98 percent of deliveries attended by skilled health personnel.
Rwanda's fourth UPR also highlighted progress in gender equality, noting that women hold 63.3 percent of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 53.8 percent in the Senate, with women holding senior positions across the judiciary, prosecution, central bank, and other key institutions. Financial inclusion for women has also increased to 96 percent, up from 92 percent in 2020.
The Rwandan delegation, which included Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa and officials from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), and the Ministry of Local Government, emphasized that the country approaches the UPR process with a spirit of openness and constructive dialogue, using it as a platform to strengthen citizen-centered policies and institutional reforms.
"We are here to listen, to respond, and to consider recommendations in good faith, guided by our constitution, our international obligations, and our national priorities," Dr. Ugirashebuja stated.
Rwanda noted that it remains committed to building on its progress, addressing challenges such as climate-related impacts, teenage pregnancy, and lingering socio-economic vulnerabilities, through sustained reforms and strengthened partnerships to enhance the rights and well-being of all Rwandans.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-creates-over-949-000-new-jobs-in-three-years
