wougnet-update Mailing List Archive: WOUGNET Update Newsletter October 2006[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]
WOUGNET Update Newsletter October 2006 ***********************************************************************A monthly electronic newsletter from Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) - http://www.wougnet.org For comments or queries, contact info@xxxxxxxxxxxTo subscribe/unsubscribe to the WOUGNET Update Newsletter, send a message to wougnet-update-request@xxxxxxxxxxx with the following command in the subject or body of your message: subscribe/unsubscribe =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=- This month's contents: 1. Women Organizations in Uganda 2. ICT Policy 3. Links & Resources 4. Project News and Events 5. Tech Tip 7. WOUGNET News =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=- +++ WOUGNET Website Redesign - Call for comments +++While WOUGNET has grown, over the years the look, feel and functionality of the WOUGNET website has remained pretty much the same. With the support of Hivos, WOUGNET is embarking on an exercise to revamp the website, and we would greatly appreciate your input. Kindly respond to the following questions and return to info@xxxxxxxxxxx by October 24, 2006. 1) What three things do you like most about the WOUGNET website, and why? 2) What three things do you dislike about the WOUGNET website, and why?3) If the WOUGNET website were more interactive, e.g., had discussion boards, blogs, wikis, would this make you visit the site more often? 4) What key type of content/information/resources do you consider missing from the WOUGNET website? Regards, Dorothy for WOUGNET Redesign Team =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = UMWA: Change of e-mail contacts http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/umwa.htmlUganda Media Women?s Association (UMWA) provides a forum for media women to promote rights and freedoms of the marginalised in society through capacity building, sharing and dissemination of information for sustainable development. UMWA?s radio station 101.7 Mama fm provides a forum for debating gender issues. The station covers women's issues as well as news of importance to other marginalized groups. The target audience is vulnerable groups in society and Policy makers by building capacity for members, conducting advocacy and lobbying on human rights issues, conducting research and documentation, and delivering civic education. UMWA has changed its e-mail address to umwa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx = EASSI: Announcing Internship Programme for Young Women, 2007 http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/eassi.html#IP2006The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of women (EASSI) was formed in 1996 as a post-Beijing support mechanism for Eastern Africa covering the countries of Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. EASSI is specifically seeking four young women aged 20-30 years from Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda to join the 2007 Internship Programme. The internship Programme is an innovative and exciting Programme for young women from the Eastern Africa sub-region held every year from April to December. The Programme provides opportunities for learning, interacting and traveling. Its objective is to develop and enhance young women?s skills in leadership, lobbying and advocacy, programme management, report writing and analysis, research and documentation, information management, developing resourceful data bases, website maintenance and resource center management. At the end of the internship programme, each intern is expected to produce a research report on an area of their choice but related to the work that EASSI does, based on their experience at EASSI. Details for those interested in applying are available at http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/eassi.html#IP2006 or via email from eassi@xxxxxxxxx = EASSI: Revitalizing the Women?s Movement in Eastern Africa 10 years after Beijing http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/eassi.html#Ten2006Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) will celebrate its 10 years anniversary at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda from 10th to 11th November this year 2006. The theme for the celebration will be ? Revitalizing the Women?s Movement in Eastern Africa 10 years after Beijing?. Other key themes to be discussed at the Forum include Women, Peace and Conflict situation in the region, Land and Food security, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), women?s participation in decision making among others. The Forum will be attended by participants from different women?s organizations in the sub region and beyond. Special focus will be made on participation of grassroots women, especially women from the host country. Registration Fee is 50 US Dollars for EASSI members, 100 US Dollars for Non-members and 10 US Dollars for students. All are welcome. The mission of EASSI is to facilitate follow up of African and Beijing Platforms for Action (PFAs) in order to enhance the advancement of women and social justice. Its priority issues are: 1. Monitoring the Beijing Platforms for Action as a key focal area. 2. Reducing feminized poverty. 3. Increasing the role of women in peace building and conflict resolution.4. Achieving gender equality in democratic governance by increasing the numbers of women in power and decision-making. 5. Recognizing that HIV/AIDS cuts across all areas and working with partners to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls. For more details and registration forms contact: The Executive Director Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) P.O. Box 24965 Kampala, Uganda Fax: 256 41 285306 E-mail: eassi@xxxxxxxxx or visit www.eassi.org = Update of contact informationThe following organisations have updated their contact information. All organisations have profiles accessible via http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html i) Kabaawo Women Savings and Credit Development Association (KWOSCDA): Change of postal address to P.O. Box 14049, Mengo http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#KWOSCDAii) Safe Motherhood Initiative in Uganda (SMIU): Change of physical address to Department of Physiology, Medical School, Mulago http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#SMIUiii) Luweero Women?s Development Association (LUWODA): Change of postal address to P.O. Box 276, Luwero http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#LUWODAiv) The Association of Uganda Women Lawyers - FIDA (U): Change of e-mail address to fida@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#FIDAU v) Namasuba Kikajjo Women?s Development Association: No e-mail address anymore http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#NAKIWDAvi) National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda (NACWOLA): Physical address is Lower Muyenga B, Bukasa Road, Muyenga http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#NACWOLAvii) Pan African Women Liberation Organization (PAWLO): New coordinator is Jacqueline Amongin http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#PAWLOviii) Association for Re-Orientation and Rehabilitation of Teso Women for Development (TERREWODE): Postal address is P.O. Box 537, Soroti http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#TERREWODE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ICT POLICY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~= National Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) Consultative Workshop, October 13, 2006 In preparation for the inaugural IGF 'Internet Governance for Development' in Athens, Greece, the first meeting of the Uganda Internet Governance Forum will be held on 13th October 2006 at Grand Imperial. In attendance will be Dr. Nii Quaynor from Ghana, whose participation is sponsored by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The theme for the NIGF workshop is "The Road to Athens - Issues for Uganda" and the objectives are to raise awareness of the inaugural IGF in Athens, and the key issues for consideration as well as to raise awareness of an African position on IG and identify key issues that Uganda should take forward during the inaugural IGF in Athens, Greece. The first IGF meeting is structured along the following broad themes: a) Openness - Freedom of expression, free flow of information, ideas and knowledge b) Security - Creating trust and confidence through collaboration c) Diversity - Promoting multilingualism and local content d) Access - Internet Connectivity: Policy and Cost Capacity-building will be a cross-cutting feature.The NIGF is a one-day event beginning at 8:30am, and venue is Kuku Hall, Grand Imperial Hotel. This is a public event - all are welcome to attend and make their contributions. The event is being organised by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT, WOUGNET and Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). For a copy of the briefing note for the workshop as well as the program, please send a request to ictpolicy@xxxxxxxxxxx = Software Freedom Day, 16 September 2006 http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews06.html#SFD06Software Freedom Day (SFD) is a worldwide celebration of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Advocates of free and open-source software have designated the third Saturday of each September as Software Freedom Day and plan events around the world to educate the public about the benefits of using high quality FOSS in education, in government, at home, and in business. This year?s Software Freedom Day celebrations in Uganda were organized by East African Center for Open Source Software (EACOSS). The event was held at Uganda Institute of information Communication technology (UICT), Nakawa, Kampala. It was open to the public. The theme for the day was ?Open Opportunities with Open Source Software?. The essence of the event was that it was meant to be interactive, and fun. About 60 participants and 10 facilitators participated in the event. Demonstrations were carried out of various distributions of Linux, for example Suse 9.3, 10.0, 10.1. Debian,Ubunyu, Kubuntu Damn Small Linux, knoppix among others. Other activities included a quiz, a raffle draw where many prizes were won and software installation. Among the prizes in the raffle were free training courses of participant?s choice at EACOSS, free internet surfing at EACOSS for a month, free memory sticks, wireless keyboard and mouse, CDs, DVDs and software. For a pictorial of the day go to: http://softwarefreedomday.org/gallery/2006/LinuxChix_Uganda_SFD_Photos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINKS & RESOURCES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a) Development = MYDEL Annual Report 2005 Online http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/mydel.htmlMengo Youth Development Link (MYDEL) is a Non Governmental Organization formed in the year 2000 by the group of vulnerable youth in Mengo Parish. MYDEL's mission is to empower the less privileged communities with managerial and marketable skills which will help them in the formation of self sustainable projects and income generating projects. The 2005 Annual Report highlights activities over the period April 2005 to April 2006. b) Health = Connecting for health: Country profiles now available http://www.wougnet.org/Links/health.html#GVLIThis companion volume to Connecting for Health: Global Vision, Local Insight, the report for the World Summit on the Information Society, is now available as a full report or as individual country files. The Country Profiles compilation brings together for the first time statistics from United Nations agencies measuring demographics, health and information and communication technologies (ICT), providing a profile of each WHO Member State's health and ICT diffusion and a reference for policy and research. The profiles are based on a comparable, meaningful and manageable set of data that can be used for analyses across countries and regions. c) HIV/AIDS = Hope Clinic Lukuli begins new TREAT service http://www.wougnet.org/Links/hivaids.html#TREATBeginning on 13th September 2006, The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) will begin a new TREAT service at Hope Clinic Lukuli in Makindye Division. The TREAT services are recognised as a leading provider of high quality ART services, thereby ensuring that people with AIDS live longer, healthier and more productive lives. Hope Clinic Lukuli is a philanthropic health NGO with over six years experience of coordination with the Kampala City Council and Ministry of Health as well as with national programs supported by PEPFAR and other partners. The clinic has been providing free counseling and testing services, both VCT and PMTCT for two years and administers PMTCT drugs to mothers and newly born children. It has been accredited by Dr Zaramba in April 2006 as a Hive Treatment Centre. The JCRC support will follow a variety of methods including for example free drugs for orphans, vulnerable children and women as well as cost recovery drugs and subsidized laboratory tests for adult patients. As part of the collaborative agreement, Hope Clinic Lukuli will encourage women in their own right and as caretakers of OVCs to access VCT and when in need of ARVs they will be referred to the JCRC ART site in Mengo. Hope Clinic Lukuli will provide free counseling services and share ART information with the communities, provide follow up support for those on ART to ensure adherence and where possible, provide nutritional support and food supplements to those on ART. d) ICT-related resources = Free & Open Source Software Portal - UNESCO http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#FOSSPUNESCO is providing a specific portal related to Free and Open Source Software. It gives access to documents and websites, which are references for the Free Software/Open Source Technology movement. It is also a gateway to resources related to free software. = ICT for Development Success Stories http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#IDSSThe Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) network has published a document, free for download, introducing some ICT for Development success stories. It provides online detailed information introducing the selected success projects. It highlights initiatives that are using ICTs to make a real and meaningful difference in communities, no matter how disadvantaged or isolated they may be. These stories on Youth, Poverty and Gender are snapshots of the learning process that accompanies the introduction and implementation of ICTs in a community development project. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROJECT NEWS AND EVENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = The Uganda Social Forum (2nd edition 2006) - Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda 18th 21st September 2006Under the theme, Building Uganda Our Struggles, Our Solutions, the Second Edition of the Uganda Social Forum (USF 2006) was held from 18th to 21st September 2006 at Mandela National Stadium Namboole, Kampala. USF 2006 was an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are committed to building a society centered on the human person. USF brought together and provided space for ?Caravans? of hundreds and thousands of grassroots people and others from social movements, civil society organisations, community-based organisations including peace activists, minority groups, slum dwellers, popular actors, women groups etc from all over Uganda to make known and share their experiences of struggles, coping mechanisms and alternative practices or solutions. USF 2006 was an exciting event that provided yet another opportunity to mobilize and give voice to the ordinary citizens and social movements from Northern, Southern, South Western, Eastern, Western and West Nile regions of Uganda in an effort to build the necessary capacity for self organisation and representation to demand for social transformation and the promotion of human dignity, mutual respect, equity, peace and justice and new values of solidarity. USF 2006 constituted Popular platforms, Forums (youth forums, farmer?s forums, women?s forum, elders/opinion, leaders? forums etc), Documentaries, Best Practice and Experience Sharing, Artistic and Cultural events and representations, Exhibitions, Advocacy and Lobbying Clinics, Conferences, workshops, seminars, roundtables, panel discussions, dialogues etc; Games and Sports, Poems, Think Tanks, Mentoring and coaching sessions, People?s Assemblies and Forums, Music, Dance and Drama, Music Concerts, Campaigns against poverty, Peaceful marches, Caucuses and Press Conferences. The purpose of the forum was to amplify the Collective Voice Towards WSF 2007. This year?s USF provided an opportunity for social movements in Uganda to strategise for collective action and amplify their collective voice to a global level as it will precede and feed into the first ever World Social Forum on the African continent to be held in January 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya. The WSF 2007 is being jointly organized by the Eastern Africa countries. WSF 2007 will be a space for reflection, encounter and debate, a space for sharing ideas, proposals and experiences; bringing and raising the profile of the unique concerns of the African political, social, economic and cultural agenda. For more information, contact: Deo Nyanzi Programme Officer, Uganda National NGO Forum Plot 25 Muyenga Tankhill Road - Kabalagala P.O. Box 4636, Kampala Tel: 031-2260373; 041-510272/501674 Fax: 031-2260372 Mobile: 077-2452946 Email: ngoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Web: http://www.ngoforum.or.ug = Commonwealth Women?s Network Uganda National Conference, 5 October 2006In September 1991, Women's NGOs from various regions of the Commonwealth that were attending a conference of Commonwealth Women established an NGO - Commonwealth Women's Network (CWN). That initial meeting was made possible with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The CWN is a pioneering body within the realm of the Commonwealth community and is aimed at improving the quality of life of women throughout the Commonwealth. The Network is sensitive to the national and regional concerns of its members and aims at bringing existing organizations and networks in the Commonwealth together. The CWN secretariat is currently in Uganda and is chaired by EASSI. The CWN is expected to take part in the 8th Women Affairs Ministerial Meeting (WAMM) due in Uganda, in June 2007. As a prerequisite to activities leading to this event, with generous support from ActionAid International Uganda, CWN organized a national conference on 5th October 2006. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness on the 8WAMM as well as lobby for support in the activities of the network. For further information, please send email to info@xxxxxxxxxxx = Harambee: Reinforcing African Voices Through Collaborative Processes Call for applications for small grants http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews06.html#SGF06The Harambee Project, conceived by the Association for Progressive Communications, Bellanet and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and funded by Connectivity Africa and Hivos, is designed to support increased capacity among a range of Africa-based networks and communities to coordinate and facilitate the interactions of their respective constituencies. The Harambee project coordinators are announcing a small grants facility (SGF) to provide a number of sectoral based networks and communities in Africa with funding for the development of greater collaborative capacity. The SGF will provide a one-time grant of up to 5,000 USD per network for a maximum period of six months. A network applying for the SGF must be a recognized legal entity or hosted by one. Preference will be given to networks with an institutional base in Africa . Applicants are required to submit, by email, a brief Concept Note (1-2 pages) by 13TH OCTOBER, 2006. The concept note should include the name of the applicant organisation and/or network, contact information, title of the proposed activity, description of the problem/issue the proposed activity will address, outline of the proposed activity including a description of how a small grant of up to $5000 USD would be used, beneficiaries and impact of the project and the expected duration of the activity. Concept notes will be evaluated and selected applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed proposal (5-6 pages). Applicants who pass into this second stage will be assured that: 1. There will be a roughly 50% chance that their proposal will be funded2. ALL APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO SUBMIT FULL PROPOSALS WILL BE FUNDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING HARAMBEE WORKSHOP, held to develop capacity in network coordination, to share learning from the implementation of pilot projects, to validate project strategies, and to provide input into the design of activities for future phases of the Harambee project. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:* Quality and suitability of the proposed activity with respect to SGF objectives. (30%) * Proposal clearly states objectives, includes a methodology, identifies outputs, partners/stakeholders and includes a realistic timeline and budget. (25%) * Demonstrated potential for shared learning within the network and/or among broader networks. (20%) * Planned output(s) in the form of a 1-2 page learning document, short video, journal article etc. highlighting results of the activity (20%) * Suitability of applicant organisation and/or network in relation to the eligibility requirements. (5%) Concept notes and proposals may be written in English or French and sent to harambee-sgf@xxxxxxxxxxxx Announcement of grant awards will be made on DECEMBER 22nd, 2006 and implementation of activities will commence in January 2007. For more information on the SGF including eligibility requirements, please refer to: http://wikis.bellanet.org/harambee/index.php/SGF_Call_for_Applicants Please direct any inquiries to harambee-sgf@xxxxxxxxxxx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tech Tip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = WorldSpace Satellite RadioSatellite radio is a relatively new entrant into the radio market. Traditional radio stations broadcast their programs via large antennas to provide reception in the surrounding area. A satellite radio is a special digital radio that receives signals broadcast by communications satellite. This allows the listener to follow a single channel no matter where he or she is because the signal's reach is not limited by station power (as long as there are no major obstructions, such as buildings, cloud cover, in the line of sight between the antenna and the satellite). Satellite radio signals are broadcast in digital form which drastically improves the quality of reception. Broadcasts vary from news, educational talk shows and music. Some of the uses of this radio: 1. It has an audio Channel called the African Learning Channel (ALC) which broadcasts developmental information e.g. about women, agriculture, good governance, child care, HIV/AIDS, Micro-finance and environment. 2. The radio is used to download information from selected websites but the user accesses this information without use of a telephone line or accessing the Internet. Information downloaded includes weather forecasts and market prices. 3. There is a chance for organizations involved in community development to upload information to the worldspace systems. 4. The radio can access more than 60 channels broadcasted by international, regional and even local FM broadcasters. 5. The radio is used as a tool for distance learning for schools and colleges. For example the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and Ethiopia Media Agency (EMA) have channels for broadcasting their educational programs. Advantages of using this technology: 1. The radio uses dry cells, car battery, solar as well as electricity to be powered thus convenient for all people. 2. The radio antenna withstands all adverse weather conditions rain, shine or heat. 3. FM stations can subscribe to the World Space Corporation and they can broadcast through this technology thus reach many areas previously not reachable. 4. If used only for downloading purposes and updating information (since this can be done only as per a certain schedule), the radio can be shared among other users. This is because development information can be useful for long periods of time. For example information on Micro-finance institutions, HIV/Aids, etc., is available. So while some people use it for downloading purposes, others can use it for broadcasting on a daily basis.A WorldSpace satellite radio is available at the WOUGNET secretariat for use by members for a loan period of up to three months. If you would like to try out the technology and evaluate its potential for your organisation, please send a request to techsupport@xxxxxxxxxxxx Information about the WorldSpace Satellite Radio at WOUGNET is also available online at http://www.wougnet.org/Support/WSprogram.html For more information on the WorldSapce radio, visit http://www.worldspace.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WorldSpace or contact WOUGNET at techsupport@xxxxxxxxxxx This TechTip was compiled by the WOUGNET Technical Support Team. For more information contact techsupport@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit www.wougnet.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WOUGNET News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = Dimitra Project expands its network in the East African sub-region http://www.wougnet.org/Projects/dimitra.htmlDimitra is an information and communication project implemented by the Gender and Population Division of Food and Agriculture Organisation with the aim of empowering rural populations by building capacities and facilitating access to Information. The project works with local partners in Africa and the near East and is a tool to enable rural women through their associations and grassroots organisations to make their voices heard at the national and international level. Dimitra's main goal is to empower rural women and to improve their living conditions and status by highlighting the extent and value of their contributions. Modern and traditional information and communication technologies are used to encourage networking and share information. The project provides a body of knowledge as well as tools, like newsletters, CD-ROMS and other various information, which enables rural women and their representative organisations to improve their information and communication techniques. Local Dimitra partners collect detailed quantitative and qualitative information on organisations and projects working with men and women in rural areas in their country or sub region. Through a partnership established since 1998, Dimitra has collected information on a variety of development projects and publications concerning rural women in Africa and the Near East. Each partner is the focal point for its country and sub-region. In the East African sub- region, the Dimitra project covers the five countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia. To coordinate the Dimitra project and its activities in the region, early this year, Dimitra established partnership with Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET). As the regional focal point in the sub region, WOUGNET will coordinate Dimitra activities, establish local partnerships and collect, encode and disseminate information on NGOs, research institutes and information activities pertaining to rural women or rural development with a gender approach. In line with the project?s main vision of consolidating and extending its network in Africa, promoting information exchange by strengthening information and communication skills and updating and disseminating information on gender and rural development issues, WOUGNET has established National Dimitra partnerships in Ethiopia and Kenya. In Ethiopia, Women Support Organisation (WSO), a gender-based organisation with a strong focus on rural women development, is the Dimitra National Focal point. WSO is an indigenous, non-governmental and humanitarian organization, working in Ethiopia for the improvement of the social, economic, and physical well being of the poor, rural women in particular, and the community in general. The organisation was established in 1995. WSO, first came into existence by providing assistance to destitute and displaced women living in the area called Garji, located in Wereda 17 of Addis Ababa Administrative Region. After three years of such involvement in the town, the organization expanded its interventions in the rural areas of North Shoa and Oromia Zones in the Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). WSO works in partnership with Pact-Ethiopia, Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), German Development Service (DED), Help Age International, Ipas Ethiopia, Future Forests Canada, Danish Church Aid (DCA), Canada International Development Agency (CIDA). The organisation also has close collaboration and excellent working relationship with governmental organizations at the federal, regional, zonal and Woreda levels, such as the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC), Health, Agriculture and Education Bureaus etc,. It is also a full member of CRDA, CORHA and Network of Ethiopian Women Association. In Kenya, Arid Lands Information Network - Eastern Africa (ALIN), a network organisation of Community Development Workers (CDWs) involved in drylands development, is the Dimitra national focal point. ALIN supports CDWs by encouraging the exchange of ideas, information and their own experience on development work. With such exchanges, CDWs become more confident and effective in their work. ALIN members are drawn from government departments, non-governmental organisations and Community Based Organisations. They include, among others, community mobilizers, health workers, extension workers, etc. The mission of ALIN is to improve the development practices of community development workers (CDWs) in the East African drylands by facilitating the exchange of experience among them, and disseminating appropriate information in a usable form. Using the three main working methods of the Dimitra project of Partnership, Participation, and Networking, WOUGNET and the National focal points in Kenya and Ethiopia, will work closely to highlight local knowledge by promoting and supporting the exchange of good practices, ideas and experiences. WOUGNET is also putting out a call to organisations interested in becoming a Dimitra focal point in Tanzania and Somalia to send an email to info@xxxxxxxxxxx, with Dimitra Focal point in the subject line. The interested organisation should have an involvement in Rural development with a gender bias, and have an information, research component in their work. For Dimitra information in Kenya, please contact: Noah Lusaka Programme Manager Arid Lands Information Network-Eastern Africa (ALIN-EA), P.O. Box 10098, 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, Kenya, AAYMCA Building, Along State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue. Tel +254 20 2731557 Telefax +254 20 2737813 Cell phone: +254 733 848246 Email: noah@xxxxxxxxxx Website: www.alin.or.ke In Ethiopia, contact: Mr Wabe Aman Executive Director Women Support Organisation P O Box 101403 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: 251 -11-6182492 Email: wosuorg@xxxxxxxxxxxFor further information about the Dimitra Project in the Eastern Africa region, please contact: Ms. Janet Cox Achora Programme Officer - Rural Access Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) Plot 53 Kira Road Tel: +256-41-532035 Fax: +256-41-530474 Post: P.O. Box 4411, Kampala, Uganda Email: info@xxxxxxxxxxx = Reminder - Call for expressions of interest: Refurbished ComputersAs a result of the WOUGNET - Computer Aid Partnership, a shipment of refurbished Pentium II and III computers is in Kampala and available for sale to NGOs, non-profit and faith based organizations, as well as educational institutions. The computers are priced at 100 Pounds Sterling each (Pentium IIs are on sale for 60 Pounds sterling each) and come with a 1-year warranty. All interested please contact the WOUGNET Marketing Officer, Sauce Patty Waigonda, by email at techsupport@xxxxxxxxxxx or call 0772-513079 or 041-532035 for more details and to make a booking. *********************************************************************** The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) website and mailing lists are hosted by Kabissa - Space for Change in Africa WOUGNET is supported by APC, CTA, Dimitra/FAO and Hivos **************************************************[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index] Last Updated: Thu Mar 15 00:22:03 2007 |
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