Disclaimer: Some names have been changed in this story to protect the privacy of individuals. 

Running a business as a couple can be incredibly rewarding, allowing partners to combine their strengths, shared vision, and passion for success. However, navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship together can also pose unique challenges, with conflicts arising from differences in management styles, communication preferences, roles and responsibilities, and work-life balance. Furthermore, traditional gender roles often limit women's full participation in decision-making and income generating activities.

Case in point: James and Patricia are a couple who own a pork butchery in Rwanda’s Gakenke district. In the past, James made most business decisions without consulting his wife, which led to frequent disagreements due to lack of transparency of business earnings.

To address challenges for couples like James and Patricia, Feed the Future Rwanda Orora Wihaze — an activity that is strengthening animal-sourced food market systems ­— teamed up with Rwanda Men’s Resources Center (RWAMREC) — an organization known for its expertise in promoting positive masculinity and gender equality, while combating domestic violence. Orora Wihaze and RWAMREC provided specialized six-month training programs to couples in the animal-sourced food business. The training focused on fostering couples’ dialogue to transform gender relations within households and enhance women's economic empowerment and decision-making. 

Applying Gender Transformative Approaches

The program worked with couples in eight districts of Rwanda’s Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western provinces. The training sessions focused on key issues such as understanding gender equality, sharing responsibilities in business management, financial planning, and overcoming gender-based stereotypes... Read the full story on MarketLinks.