Community activism as a strategy to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Rwanda: Results of a community randomized trial
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways The evaluation of Indashyikirwa reveals that efforts to shift social norms around intimate partner violence (IPV) must be deeply grounded in the local context and allowed adequate time to take root. While the intervention was built on a norms-change framework, community-level change did not occur within the study’s timeframe. This highlights that altering collective expectations and behaviors requires not only well-designed programming but also careful alignment with cultural dynamics and longer implementation periods.
Objectives The study aimed to assess whether the community-level components of the Indashyikirwa program could reduce IPV and transform gender norms and attitudes at a population level in rural Rwanda.
Methods Two separate cross-sectional surveys were conducted as part of a larger community randomized controlled trial. Each wave included a random sample of approximately 1,400 women and 1,400 men, surveyed before the start of community-level activities and again 24 months later. These surveys captured data on IPV outcomes and related social and gender norms. A longitudinal qualitative process evaluation was also conducted to explore implementation processes and contextual factors influencing outcomes.
Intervention Details Indashyikirwa (“Agents of Change”) was a multi-component IPV prevention program implemented by CARE Rwanda and partners. It included a 21-session curriculum for couples promoting healthy, equitable relationships; training for selected couples to become community activists; engagement with local leaders; and the establishment of safe spaces for women. The program aimed to reduce IPV by transforming relationship dynamics and shifting harmful community norms around power and gender.
Results The study found no statistically significant reduction in IPV or related social norms at the community level after two years. Women’s reports of physical and/or sexual IPV in the past 12 months and men’s self-reported perpetration did not differ meaningfully between intervention and control groups. Process evaluation findings indicated that delays in launching community-level activities, challenges in adapting the activism component to the rural Rwandan context, and limited exposure within the community likely contributed to the absence of measurable impact.
Conclusions The evaluation suggests that even promising, theory-driven interventions may fall short without adequate time for contextual adaptation and rollout. The short project timeline limited the opportunity for the program to influence community norms and behaviors. For IPV prevention efforts to succeed at scale, donors and implementers must plan for extended timeframes—often five to seven years—and incorporate process evaluations to support real-time learning and responsiveness.
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