Summary

The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, conducted an official visit to Rwanda from 19 to 30 May 2025 to assess progress and challenges in poverty reduction and social rights. The report acknowledges Rwanda’s significant achievements in reducing monetary and multidimensional poverty, with national poverty rates falling from 39.8% in 2017 to 27.4% in 2024, and extreme poverty halving to 5.4%. Disparities persist, however: rural poverty remains nearly double urban levels, and inequality is pronounced, with the richest 1% earning 20% of national income. Structural vulnerabilities, including high public debt, reliance on external financing and uneven benefits from economic growth, threaten inclusive development. Rwanda’s growth model – focused on services and high-end investments – has not sufficiently translated into broad-based job creation or poverty reduction, particularly for rural populations.

The Rapporteur calls for prioritizing social investment and rights-based policies to ensure equitable progress. Key recommendations include increasing budgets for health, education and social protection, addressing high dropout and repetition rates in schools and improving early childhood development to combat stunting. The report urges reforms to guarantee decent work, including establishing a statutory minimum wage and accelerating the formalization of employment. It highlights the need to strengthen social protection schemes, expand nutrition support and ensure inclusive housing policies. Special attention is given to women, historically marginalized Batwa communities and refugees – categories that face systemic barriers to rights and opportunities. Finally, the report stresses that meaningful participation and accountability are essential for sustainable development, warning against self-censorship and urging the Government to foster genuine dialogue to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of policies.