On Thursday 7 November we were delighted to welcome the High Comissioner for the Republic of Rwanda to the UK, Her Excellency Yamina Karitanyi to deliver a very special PIE talk.

She came to tell us more about the amazing economic and social recovery of Rwanda, following the the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

Ms Katrianyi explained that this has been in large part achieved through female empowerment in the workforce and Parliament – they now have 62% female representation in Parliament and 43% in the judiciary.

Rwanda is now the safest country to live in in Africa, its GDP has tripled in the last two decades and it featured sixth in the latest Annual Global Gender Gap report. In 2008, Rwanda became the very first country to make a total ban on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and recently it has become the first country in Africa to build its own mobile phone and to pioneer drone delivery of healthcare.

A fascinating and inspiring insight into recovery from conflict and transformational change.