Lessons learned from implementing Indashyikirwa in Rwanda- an adaptation of the SASA! approach to prevent and respond to intimate partner violence
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence, Women’s Economic Empowerment
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways This study shows that harmful social norms in Rwanda—particularly those upholding male authority and the acceptability of violence to discipline women—are central to sustaining IPV. A key takeaway is that social norm change is achievable when interventions like Indashyikirwa create space for couples to redefine respect, power, and gender roles in non-violent and equitable ways. The findings underscore the importance of targeting both relational dynamics and the broader normative environment that legitimizes violence.
Objectives To assess how participants experienced the adapted Indashyikirwa couples’ curriculum in Rwanda and to examine how the programme influenced gendered social norms and intimate partner relationships.
Methods This qualitative study was conducted as part of the impact evaluation of Indashyikirwa. Data included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with heterosexual couples who completed the curriculum, collected during and after programme implementation. Analysis focused on how couples interpreted changes in gender roles, power dynamics, and violence within their relationships.
Intervention Details Indashyikirwa was a multi-component IPV prevention programme implemented in rural Rwanda. Its core was a 21-session participatory couples’ curriculum focused on building equitable, non-violent relationships by addressing power, communication, and gender norms. The broader programme included training for community activists, engagement with opinion leaders, and provision of women’s safe spaces.
Results Participants reported significant changes in their relationships, including reductions in violence, improved communication, and increased mutual respect. Many men described learning to relinquish control and embrace more emotionally supportive roles, while women reported feeling more empowered and safe. These shifts were strongly tied to participants’ critical engagement with social norms that had previously justified violence and male dominance. However, participants also noted the difficulty of sustaining change in communities where traditional norms remained pervasive.
Conclusions The adapted Indashyikirwa curriculum effectively supported change in gender relations and helped participants challenge harmful social norms that sustain IPV. The programme’s impact demonstrates that social norm transformation is possible when couples are supported to reflect critically on their roles and relationships. However, sustaining this change requires broader community engagement to shift the normative environment that legitimizes control and violence.
Norms Addressed
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