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Rwanda

Despite steps taken to strengthen social cohesion, infrastructure development, and economic growth, Rwanda continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the Genocide against the Tutsi. These include enduring trauma and mental health conditions, often compounded by persistent economic hardships. At the same time, the government faces challenges related to the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals convicted of genocide-related crimes. These realities combined pose a significant hurdle to commendable efforts made on national unity and resilience.

Our Work

Interpeace has been working in Rwanda since 2001 supporting reconciliation efforts on local, regional, and national levels. Most recently, together with Fellowship Rwanda, Dignity in Detention Organization, and Haguruka, we have focused our efforts on addressing the wounds of the past through individual and community-level healing, fostering reconciliation and resilience, strengthening livelihoods and civic engagement, and facilitating the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners. Together, our work has enabled individuals and communities to rebuild relationships and trust, whilst strengthening the economic foundations of everyday life.


Our Impact


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People reached through community healing initiatives, health centres, correctional facilities, collaborative livelihood initiatives, workshops, and events
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Healing and dialogue spaces created and 296 community dialogue facilitators trained
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Mental health professionals trained across Rwanda
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Increase in emotional well-being and 30% increase in self-management capacity reported by programme participants

Our Engagements

2001
2002
2004
2006
2012
2015
2019
2020
2022
2025
2001 – Under Its Original Name as the War-Torn Societies Project International, Interpeace Launches Its First Programme in Rwanda, Focusing on Dialogue and Research, in Partnership With the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission.

2001 – Under its original name as the War-torn Societies Project International, Interpeace launches its first programme in Rwanda, focusing on dialogue and research, in partnership with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission.

2002 – Interpeace Supports the Establishment of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace, Which Later Becomes Its First Rwandan Partner.

2002 – Interpeace supports the establishment of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace, which later becomes its first Rwandan partner.

2004 – Work Expands to Strengthening Community Dialogue Platforms and Supporting Dialogues With the Rwandan Diaspora.

2004 – Work expands to strengthening community dialogue platforms and supporting dialogues with the Rwandan diaspora.

2006 – Research Findings Informing Policy and Practice Are Disseminated and Shared, and Permanent Dialogue Platforms at Provincial and National Levels Are Established, Including Dialogue Clubs in Secondary Schools.

2006 – Research findings informing policy and practice are disseminated and shared, and permanent dialogue platforms at provincial and national levels are established, including dialogue clubs in secondary schools.

2012 – A Local Governance Barometer to Enhance Citizen Participation in Governance Is Launched and Accompanied by Societal Healing Initiatives.

2012 – A Local Governance Barometer to enhance citizen participation in governance is launched and accompanied by societal healing initiatives.

2015 – Working Together With Never Again Rwanda, Programmes Expand to Youth Dialogues, Citizen Forums, and Group Psychosocial Therapy, Thus Promoting a New Approach to Conflict Management.

2015 – Working together with Never Again Rwanda, programmes expand to youth dialogues, citizen forums, and group psychosocial therapy, thus promoting a new approach to conflict management.

2019 – Flagship Studies Called “Healing Trauma and Building Trust and Tolerance in Rwanda” and “Healing Intergenerational Trauma” Are Published. The Publications Pave the Way for a Programme Aligned With Government Priorities on Mental Health, Unity and Reconciliation, Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reintegration, and Livelihood Programming.

2019 – Flagship studies called “Healing Trauma and Building Trust and Tolerance in Rwanda” and “Healing Intergenerational Trauma” are published. The publications pave the way for a programme aligned with government priorities on mental health, unity and reconciliation, prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration, and livelihood programming.

2020 – A Permanent Office in Kigali Is Opened and a Memorandum of Understanding With the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement Is Signed. A Programme Developing Scientific and Context-Informed Tools Such as Resilience-Oriented Therapy, Multifamily Healing Spaces, Sociotherapy, and Collaborative Livelihoods Is Launched. Curricula on Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reintegration as Well as Social-Emotional Skills Are Developed.

2020 – A permanent office in Kigali is opened and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement is signed. A programme developing scientific and context-informed tools such as resilience-oriented therapy, multifamily healing spaces, sociotherapy, and collaborative livelihoods is launched. Curricula on prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration as well as social-emotional skills are developed.

2022 – A Programme on Reinforcing and Scaling up Community-Based Healing Is Launched Together With Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention Rwanda. Work Aims to Build the Capacity of Mental Health Professionals to Integrate Community-Based Healing Approaches Into Mental Health Practices. A National Community Resilience Assessment Framework Is Created Enabling the Analysis of Individual, Family, Community, and Institutional Resilience, Later Informing the “Resilience Barometer”.

2022 – A programme on reinforcing and scaling up community-based healing is launched together with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention Rwanda. Work aims to build the capacity of mental health professionals to integrate community-based healing approaches into mental health practices. A national community resilience assessment framework is created enabling the analysis of individual, family, community, and institutional resilience, later informing the “Resilience Barometer”.

2025 – The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement Conducts the “Unit and Resilience Barometer 2025”, Developed Together With Interpeace.

2025 – The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement Conducts the “Unit and Resilience Barometer 2025”, Developed Together With Interpeace.


Initiatives

Past Initiatives

Country contact Information

Frank

Kayitare

KG 2 Ave, 15 Kigali, Rwanda

Resources

News