FEMNET
Encyclopedia
FEMNET, also called the African Women's Development and Communication Network, is an organization established in 1998 to promote women's development in Africa.
FEMNET helps non-government organizations share information and approaches on women's development, equality and other human rights.
held in Beijing, China in 1995.
The organization is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
FEMNET has worked with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
, the World Conference against Racism
and the African Union
(AU).
Areas of focus with the AU have included the protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council
and the New Partnership for African Development.
FEMNET ran its first gender-training workshop in 1990 in Kenya, working with the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) and the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA). The workshop helped to train trainers, and FEMNET refined the approach and developed material based on results. FEMNET ran training sessions in the 1993-1999 period in Swaziland
, Zambia
, the United States
and Malawi
. They were supported by the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID).
FEMNET ran Train the Trainers sessions in 2000 for partner organizations in South Africa
, Uganda
and Ghana
.
Gender-based trainers have worked in many other countries in Africa.
FEMNET has found that it is critical to involve men in the fight for gender equality. Male gender trainers have had great influence in introducing gender awareness in sectors such as developmental research where gender concerns had previously been neglected.
It was assumed that raising awareness of gender issues would be extremely difficult in Swaziland, with its strongly patriarchal traditions.
In fact, as a result of FEMNET assistance through UNFPA, high-level policymakers became sensitized to gender issues and measures to address gender concerns were included in key national plans.
Malawi, where FEMNET has worked with UNFPA and UNICEF, has been another country where great progress has been made in training and sensitizing political leader, agencies and other organizations.
In July 2008 FEMNET coordinated the official launch in Nairobi, Kenya of the United Nations' Gender Equality Architecture Reform
(GEAR) Campaign in Africa. As of 2010 FEMNET was active through membership and local organizations in over thirty seven African countries.
FEMNET helps non-government organizations share information and approaches on women's development, equality and other human rights.
Activities
FEMNET was originally set up in 1988 by national women's networks to co-ordinate African preparations for the Fourth World Conference on WomenWorld Conference on Women
The World Conference on Women was established in 1975 during the International Women's Year.The most recent conference was the Fourth World Conference on Women....
held in Beijing, China in 1995.
The organization is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
FEMNET has worked with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council , one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender...
, the World Conference against Racism
World Conference against Racism
The World Conference against Racism are international events organised by the UNESCO to struggle against racism ideologies and behaviours. Four conferences have been held so far, in 1978, 1983, 2001 and 2009...
and the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
(AU).
Areas of focus with the AU have included the protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights is an international human rights instrument that is intended to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms in the African continent....
, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council
Economic, Social and Cultural Council
The Economic, Social and Cultural Council is an advisory body of the African Union designed to give civil society organizations a voice within the AU institutions and decision-making processes...
and the New Partnership for African Development.
FEMNET ran its first gender-training workshop in 1990 in Kenya, working with the United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
(UNICEF) and the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
(CIDA). The workshop helped to train trainers, and FEMNET refined the approach and developed material based on results. FEMNET ran training sessions in the 1993-1999 period in Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. They were supported by the United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Population Fund
The United Nations Population Fund is a UN organization. The work of the UNFPA involves promotion of the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. This is done through major national and demographic surveys and with population censuses...
(UNFPA), UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(USAID).
FEMNET ran Train the Trainers sessions in 2000 for partner organizations in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
.
Gender-based trainers have worked in many other countries in Africa.
FEMNET has found that it is critical to involve men in the fight for gender equality. Male gender trainers have had great influence in introducing gender awareness in sectors such as developmental research where gender concerns had previously been neglected.
It was assumed that raising awareness of gender issues would be extremely difficult in Swaziland, with its strongly patriarchal traditions.
In fact, as a result of FEMNET assistance through UNFPA, high-level policymakers became sensitized to gender issues and measures to address gender concerns were included in key national plans.
Malawi, where FEMNET has worked with UNFPA and UNICEF, has been another country where great progress has been made in training and sensitizing political leader, agencies and other organizations.
In July 2008 FEMNET coordinated the official launch in Nairobi, Kenya of the United Nations' Gender Equality Architecture Reform
Gender Equality Architecture Reform
The Gender Equality Architecture Reform Campaign is a network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups around the world....
(GEAR) Campaign in Africa. As of 2010 FEMNET was active through membership and local organizations in over thirty seven African countries.
Former chairpeople
- Sara Hlupekile LongweSara Hlupekile LongweSara Hlupekile Longwe is a consultant on gender and development based in Lusaka, Zambia. She was the chairperson of FEMNET between 1997 and 2003.She is the author of the Longwe Framework for Gender Analysis....
, winner of the 2003 Africa Prize for Leadership. - Mama Koite DoumbiaMama Koite DoumbiaMama Kotie Doumbia is a Malian politician and a member of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, representing West Africa.Mama Koité Doumbia was born in Thiès, Senegal in 1950.She holds a higher diploma in youth training....
, winner of the 2011 FAMEDEV Gender Award.