Category: News
Sierra Leone’s Disabled Women & Girls Union Combats Stigma In Ebola Epidemic
Sierra Leone’s Disabled Women & Girls Union Combats Stigma In Ebola Epidemic
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus last year left in its wake not only over 10,000 dead in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, but the equally devastating impact of stigma.
Fear and superstition of the haemorrhagic disease has led to Ebola survivors being repeatedly outcast from their communities, shunned and abandoned by family and friends, causing untold emotional and psychological damage.
The Disabled Women and Girls in Sierra Leone’s Kailahun District has led the way in breaking down those barriers through an innovative project aimed at mitigating the spread of Ebola amongst disabled women and girls in Ebola infected Communities in Kailahun District in Sierra Leone.
The project’s activities centered around the sensitization of caregivers of disabled women and girls in the localities about Ebola. The group provided thirty radios and hygiene materials to heads of families with disabled women and girls. The special high-frequency radios were chosen to facilitate prompt dissemination of information on Ebola.
One outstanding example of the success of the project is the case of Isata Momoh, an Ebola survivor from the village of Borbohun. Shunned after her discharge from the Ebola treatment centre, she lived in isolation until the Disabled Women & Girls Union intervened. Through a skillful sensitisation program, the fears of the Isata’s community were allayed, eventually leading to Isata’s reintegration.
Before the involvement of Disabled Women & Girls Union, there had been an increase in the cases of death and infection from Ebola in the targeted communities. One contributing factor was that hundreds of discharged Ebola patients had sexual intercourse with their spouses and partners before the end of the recommended 90 days abstinence period, unaware of the risk of transfer. Consequently, their spouses and partners were infected, leading to new cases of Ebola.
In response, the Disabled Women & Girls Union project mounted intensive education in the affected areas. Seventy five out of total of 85 Ebola survivors who had had unprotected sex before the end of the suggested mandatory period were reexamined for signs of infection or reinfection, leading to a reduction in the spread of the virus.
One other result of the project was the introduction of new by-laws by chiefs and other community elders in the project communities to deter members from flouting the rules relating to the outlined issues. Penalties in the form of fines will be imposed on offenders.
In the future, Disabled Women & Girls Union plans to follow up on Ebola survivors to curb further hostility and stigmatization. They will also promote income-generating activities, and continue with psycho-social counseling to help them cope with the devastating effects of the disease.[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]L’épidémie du virus Ebola de l’année dernière a laissé dans son sillage non seulement plus de 10.000 morts en Sierra Leone, en Guinée et au Libéria, mais aussi l’impact dévastateur de la stigmatisation.
La peur et la superstition de la maladie hémorragique a conduit à plusieurs reprises les survivants d’Ebola a être les parias de leurs communautés, boudés et abandonnés par famille et amis, causant des dommages émotionnels et psychologiques incalculables.
Les femmes et filles invalides à cause de la maladie dans le district de Kailahun en Sierra Leone ont ouvert la voie pour briser ces barrières grâce à un projet novateur visant à atténuer la propagation du virus Ebola chez les femmes et les filles handicapées dans les collectivités infectées dans le district de Kailahun en Sierra Leone.
Les activités du projet centrées autour de la sensibilisation des personnels soignants, femmes et filles, dans les localités touchées par Ebola. Le groupe a fourni trente radios et du matériel d’hygiène aux chefs de familles avec des femmes et des filles ayant des séquelles. Des radios spéciales à haute fréquence ont été choisies pour faciliter la diffusion rapide de l’information sur le virus Ebola.
Un exemple remarquable de la réussite du projet est le cas de Isata Momoh, une survivante d’Ebola du village de Borbohun. Boudée après sa sortie du centre de traitement Ebola, elle a vécu dans l’isolement jusqu’à ce que Disabled Women & Girls Union intervienne. Grâce à un programme de sensibilisation habile, les craintes de la communauté d’Isata ont été apaisées, pour aboutir finalement à sa réintégration.
Avant la participation de Disabled Women & Girls Union, il y avait eu une augmentation des cas de décès et d’infection par le virus Ebola dans les communautés ciblées. Un facteur aggravant était que des centaines de patients touchés par Ebola ont eu des rapports sexuels avec leurs conjoints et partenaires avant la fin de la période de 90 jours d’abstinence recommandée, ignorant le risque de transfert. Par conséquent, leurs conjoints et partenaires ont été infectés, conduisant à de nouveaux cas d’Ebola.
En réponse, Disabled Women & Girls Union a monté un projet d’éducation intensive dans les zones touchées. Soixante-quinze des 85 survivantes d’Ebola qui avaient eu des rapports sexuels non protégés avant la fin de la période d’abstinence recommandée ont été réexaminées pour des signes d’infection ou de réinfection, conduisant à une réduction de la propagation du virus.
A l’avenir, Disabled Women & Girls Union prévoit le suivi des survivantes d’Ebola pour mieux juguler l’hostilité et la stigmatisation dont elles sont victimes. Ils seront également présents pour promouvoir des activités génératrices de revenus, et continuer avec un soutien psychosocial pour les aider à faire face aux effets dévastateurs de la maladie.[/tp]
Call for Applications for AWDF’s 2015 African Women Writers Workshop (Now Closed)
Call for Applications for AWDF’s 2015 African Women Writers Workshop (Now Closed)
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]PRESS RELEASE
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in collaboration with FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association, invites African women writers 
and journalists to apply for the Writing for Social Change Workshop 2015. This 10-day writing workshop, will be taking place in Uganda from July 27 to August 5, 2015.
The workshop will be facilitated by veteran BBC journalist and media expert Elizabeth Ohene from Ghana and award-winning writer Yewande Omotoso, from Nigeria/South Africa/Barbados.
This workshop is targeted at women writers, journalists and activists who wish to step-up their involvement in highlighting issues around women’s rights and social justice. Participants will be expected to read widely from assigned selected texts, and to complete daily writing exercises. After the workshop, the participants are expected to use the knowledge acquired to write widely about social justice issues in and beyond their communities.
Priority will be given to interested women journalists who wish to actively engage in women’s activism – we are expecting at least 50% of the writers selected for this workshop to be full-time journalists. We will also include women from AWDF’s existing grantee organisations, and within our partner networks.
Full accommodation, meals and a partial travel grant will be provided to all successful applicants. All applicants will be expected to be present for the ten-day duration of the workshop. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by successful applicants to enable smooth running of the workshop.
Application Guidelines
Deadline for submission is May 31 2015. Only those accepted to the workshop will be notified by June 5, 2015.
To apply send an e-mail to; communications@africlub.net/awdf.
E-mail subject should read ‘Application for Social Justice Workshop 2015’
The body of the e-mail should contain the following:
a) Your Name
b). Your Email Address
c). A short bio (maximum 200 words)
d). A sample article about women’s rights or social justice -between 500 and 1000 words. The sample maybe unpublished or published on any media. This can be sent as an attachment or as part of the email body especially if it has images. AWDF will not be responsible in case of any plagiarism.
Bios of Lead Facilitators
Elizabeth Ohene, from Ghana, is a veteran journalist, writer and broadcaster, and a former government minister.
Her career began at Ghana’s leading newspaper group the Daily Graphic, (owned by Graphic Corporation), where for over a decade she served as a reporter, staff writer, columnist and Editor.
In London in 1983, she founded the Talking Drums, a weekly news magazine on West African affairs and served as the Publisher/Editor for the three years of the magazine’s existence. Elizabeth joined the BBC World Service in London, UK, in 1986, first as a Producer of Radio Programmes, then served in various positions in the World Service and British Domestic Radio, and as a columnist on the Focus on African Magazine. She also served as Deputy Editor for the award winning Focus on Africa Programme. She reported regularly for the BBC from various parts of Africa and was the resident correspondent in South Africa from 1992 to 1994 during the transition from apartheid to the first democratic elections.
Miss Ohene conducted several training programmes for journalists for the BBC in South Africa, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. She also ran a network of more than 150 stringers located in all parts of Africa for the BBC Africa Service, supervising their editorial work.
Where courses are run for African women in the Media according to their needs, Miss Ohene’s professional activities include being a member of the International Women Media Foundation which actively promotes women’s competency and leadership in the media. The foundation has established an Africa Women’s Media Centre in Dakar, Senegal, She served as a board member of the International Commission of Investigative Journalists and a member of the panel of judges for the CNN Africa Journalist of the Year Competition.
She served in government as a Minister of State from 2001 to 2009.
She currently writes a weekly column in the Daily Graphic, Ghana’s largest circulating daily and a monthly Letter from Africa for the BBC.
Yewande Omotoso, born in Barbados, grew up in Nigeria and currently lives in Johannesburg.
Yewande trained as an architect at the University of Cape Town, to which she returned after working as an architect for several years, to complete a Masters in Creative Writing. The product of her degree is her debut novel ‘Bomboy’ published in 2011 by Cape Town publisher Modjaji Books.
mes Literary Awards, the MNet Film Award and the 2013 Etisalat Prize for Literature. It won the South African Literary Award First Time Author Prize.‘Bomboy’ was shortlisted for the 2012 Sunday Ti
Her other works include short stories ‘Two Old People’ in the anthology ‘Speaking for the Generation: Contemporary Stories from Africa’, ‘How About The Children’ published in The Kalahari Review, ‘Things Are Hard’ in the 2012 Caine Prize Anthology and ‘Fish’ published in The Moth Literary Journal.
Omotoso, for whom writing is a means to make sense of the world, is
interested in the complexity of human experiences as well as the incongruities of life.
Loneliness is a recurring theme. Omotoso views her writing as a tool for compassion and evoking self-examination. For her talent and the intent to tell stories, she credits her parents and a childhood steeped in reading and the sharing of ideas.[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”] COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
Le Fonds de développement des femmes africaines (AWDF) en collaboration avec FEMRITE – Ouganda, Association des femmes écrivains, invitent les écrivaines africaines et journalistes à candidater pour l’Atelier d’écriture pour le changement social 2015. Cet atelier d’écriture de 10 jours, aura lieu en Ouganda du 27 Juillet au 5 Août 2015.
L’atelier sera animé par la journaliste vétérente de la BBC et spécialiste des médias Elizabeth Ohene du Ghana ainsi que l’écrivaine primée Yewande Omotoso, du Nigeria / Afrique du Sud / Barbade.
Cet atelier est destiné aux femmes écrivains, journalistes et militantes qui souhaitent organiser leur implication en soulignant les questions autour des droits des femmes et la justice sociale. Les participantes seront appelées à lire abondamment des textes choisis, et effectuer des exercices d’écriture quotidiens. Après l’atelier, les participantes sont invités à utiliser les connaissances acquises pour écrire largement sur les questions de justice sociale dans et au-delà de leurs communautés.
Cet atelier fait partie des efforts d’AWDF pour amplifier la voix des femmes africaines et vise à créer un réseau qui permettra aux participantes de placer leurs articles et histoires dans une gamme de médias locaux, régionaux et internationaux.
La priorité sera donnée aux femmes journalistes intéressées qui souhaitent participer activement au militantisme des femmes – nous nous attendons à ce qu’au moins 50% des écrivaines sélectionnées pour cet atelier soient journalistes à plein temps. Nous allons aussi inclure les femmes à partir des organismes bénéficiaires existants d’AWDF, et au sein de nos réseaux de partenaires.
Hébergement en pension complète, les repas et une subvention de Voyage partielle seront fournis à toutes les candidates retenues. Tous les candidates seront tenues d’être présentes pendant toute la durée, les dix jours, de l’atelier. Un protocole d’accord sera signé par les candidates retenues afin de permettre le bon déroulement de l’atelier.
Directives de candidatures
La date limite de soumission est le 31 mai 2015. Seules celles acceptées à l’atelier en seront avisées de 5 Juin 2015.
Pour postuler envoyez un e-mail à: communications@africlub.net/awdf.
En sujet de l’e-mail veuillez indiquer: «Application pour la justice sociale Atelier 2015»
Le corps de l’e-mail doit contenir les éléments suivants:
a) Votre nom
b). Votre adresse E-mail
c). Une courte biographie (200 mots maximum)
ré). Un article de l’échantillon sur les droits des femmes ou la justice sociale -entre 500 et 1000 mots. L’échantillon peut être publié ou non sur tous les médias. Cenui-ci peut être envoyé en tant que pièce jointe ou comme partie du corps de courrier électronique en particulier si il a des images. AWDF ne sera pas responsable en cas de plagiat.
Bios des facilitateurs principaux
Elizabeth Ohene, du Ghana, est une journaliste chevronnée, écrivaine, animatrice radio, et une ancienne ministre du gouvernement.
Sa carrière a commencé au principal journal ghanéen le Daily Graphic, (détenu par la Société Graphic), où, pendant plus d’une décennie, elle a opéré en tant que journaliste, auteur de personnel, chroniqueuse et rédactrice en chef.
A Londres, en 1983, elle a fondé le Talking Drums, un magazine hebdomadaire de nouvelles sur les affaires de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et a été l’Editrice / Rédactrice au long des trois années d’existence de la revue. Elizabeth a rejoint la BBC World Service à Londres, Royaume-Uni, en 1986, d’abord comme producteur de programmes radio, puis a occupé divers postes dans le World Service et Radio national britannique, elle a également été chroniqueur pour le magazine africain FOCUS ON. Elle a également été rédacteur en chef adjoint pour le primé Focus On Programme Africain. Elle a régulièrement rendu compte pour la BBC de diverses parties de l’Afrique et a été correspondant résident en Afrique du Sud de 1992 à 1994 au cours de la transition de l’apartheid aux premières élections démocratiques.
Mlle Ohene a mené plusieurs programmes de formation pour les journalistes de la BBC en Afrique du Sud, au Nigeria, Liberia, Sénégal, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopie et en Somalie. Elle a également dirigé un réseau de plus de 150 longerons situés dans toutes les régions de l’Afrique pour le service BBC Afrique, dont elle supervisait le travail éditorial.
Des cours sont organisés pour les femmes africaines dans les médias selon leurs activités professionnelles et leurs besoins. Miss Ohene est notamment un membre de la Fondation internationale des femmes dans les médias qui favorise activement la compétence et le leadership des femmes dans les médias. La fondation a mis en place un Centre de médias des femmes d’Afrique à Dakar, au Sénégal, elle a été membre du conseil d’administration de la Commission internationale des journalistes d’investigation et membre du jury pour leCNN Africa Journalist of the Year.
Elle a également fait partie du gouvernement comme ministre d’État de 2001 à 2009.
Elle écrit actuellement une chronique hebdomadaire dans le Daily Graphic, le plus grand quotidien en circulation au Ghana et une “Letter from Africa” mensuelle pour la BBC.
Yewande Omotoso, née à la Barbade, a grandi au Nigeria et vit actuellement à Johannesburg.
Yewande a suivit une formation d’architecte à l’Université du Cape, à laquelle elle est retournée après avoir travaillé comme architecte pendant plusieurs années, pour terminer une maîtrise en création littéraire. Le produit de son diplôme est son premier roman “Bombo” publié en 2011 par l’éditeur Modjaji Livres à Au Cap.
Literary Awards, the MNet Film Award and the 2013 Etisalat Prize for Literature. Il a remporté le South African Literary Award First Time Author Prize. “Bomboy” a été sélectionné par le Sunday Ti 2012.
Ses autres œuvres comprennent des histoires courtes «Deux personnes âgées» dans l’anthologie «parler pour la génération: Histoires contemporaines de l’Afrique», «How About The Children» publié dans la Revue du Kalahari, «choses sont difficiles» dans le Caine Prize Anthology 2012 et ‘Fish’ publié dans The Moth Journal littéraire.
La poésie de Yewande est publiée dans le Journal littéraire Baobab. ‘The Rain “a été sélectionné pour l’édition 2012 du Prix de Poésie Sol Plaatjie de l’Union européenne . Elle était en 2013 membre de Norman Mailer et en 2014 membre d’Etisalat à l’Université d’East Anglia. Elle est une boursière de Miles Morland en 2015.
Omotoso, pour qui l’écriture est un moyen de donner un sens au monde, est intéressé par la complexité de l’expérience humaine ainsi que les incongruités de la vie.
La solitude est un thème récurrent. Omotoso considère son écriture comme un outil pour la compassion et évoque l’auto-examen. Pour son talent et l’intention de raconter des histoires, elle l’attribue à ses parents et une enfance imprégnée de la lecture et le partage des idées.[/tp]
International Women’s Month Highlight: AWDF Women Writers Workshop Participant Commy Mussa Selected For “15 Journalists” Award By Women Deliver
International Women’s Month Highlight: AWDF Women Writers Workshop Participant Commy Mussa Selected For “15 Journalists” Award By Women Deliver
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]We are proud to announce that Comfort Mussa, one of the participants in AWDF’s Women Writers Workshop held in July last year, made the shortlist of Women Deliver’s selected journalists.
Each year, Women Deliver, a leading, global advocate for girls’ and women’s health, rights, and wellbeing, celebrates International Women’s Day by honoring people, organizations and innovations that are delivering for girls and women. This year, they are celebrating 15 journalists from around the world who are advocating for and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Honorees were selected by an internal review board from a competitive pool of more than 100 journalists who were nominated by dozens of Women Deliver’s partners and supporters.
Read the story here: Comfort Mussa nominated for 15 Journalists Reporting On Women, Girls, By Women Deliver.
Says Women Deliver: “Comfort uses her voice to make others’ voices even louder. She is a radio host, blogger and multi-award winning journalist with a keen eye for stories that expose social injustice. She hosts a weekly radio broadcast, 100% Jeune Live, where she leads young people in open and vibrant conversations about sexual and reproductive health. As a reporter for the Global Press Journal, Comfort writes about many sensitive topics including the risk of sexual harassment for mentally disabled women in Cameroonand the ripple effect of anti-child labor laws on middle class women. Comfort also founded SisterSpeak237, a blog where girls and women can openly discuss taboo topics, such as sexual harassment on public transportation. ”
In Comfort’s own words: “There is an immense lack of stories about women’s health and rights in Cameroon’s mainstream media. I am inspired to tell these stories because it highlights relevant issues otherwise ignored. I believe that through my reporting, people ask themselves, ‘How can we solve the problems that we are currently sweeping under the rug?’ ”
It’s exciting for us to see the reach of our Women Writers Workshop and how it’s helping to amplify women’s voices. We invite you to be a part of this year’s to be held in July-August. Details to follow soon.[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Nous sommes fiers d’annoncer que Comfort Mussa, une des participantes à l’atelier des femmes écrivains d’AWDF tenu en Juillet l’année dernière, a fait la liste finale de journalistes sélectionnées par Women Deliver’s .
Chaque année, Women Deliver, chef de file, défenseur mondial pour les filles et la santé des femmes, les droits et le bien-être, célèbre la Journée internationale de la femme en rendant hommage à des personnes, des organisations et des innovations qui comptent pour les filles et les femmes. Cette année, ils célèbrent 15 journalistes du monde entier qui militent pour faire avancer la santé et les droits sexuels et reproductifs. Les lauréates ont été sélectionnées par un comité d’examen interne parmi un groupe de concurrents de plus de 100 journalistes qui avaient été nommées par des dizaines de femmes, de partenaires et de partisans.
Lire l’article ici: Comfort Mussa nominated for 15 Journalists Reporting On Women, Girls, By Women Deliver.
Le Women Deliver déclare:.. “Comfort utilise sa voix pour faire ressortir les voix des autres encore plus fort”. Elle est journaliste, animatrice radio, blogueuse et multi-primée avec un oeil vif pour les histoires qui exposent et l’injustice sociale. Elle anime une émission de radio hebdomadaire, 100% Jeune en direct, où elle conduit les jeunes dans des conversations ouvertes et dynamiques sur la santé sexuelle et reproductive. En tant que journaliste pour un Journal de presse internationale, Confort écrit sur de nombreux sujets sensibles, y compris le risque de harcèlement sexuel pour les femmes handicapées mentales dans Cameroonland, l’effet de richochet des loi anti-travail pour les enfants sur les femmes de la classe moyenne. Confort a également fondé SisterSpeak237, un blog où les filles et les femmes peuvent discuter ouvertement de sujets tabous, comme le harcèlement sexuel dans les transports publics “.
Selon les propres mots de Confort: “Il ya un immense manque d’histoires au sujet de la santé et des droits des femmes dans les médias traditionnels du Cameroun. Je suis inspiré de raconter ces histoires, car elles mettent en évidence des questions pertinentes sinon ignorées. Je crois que dans ma déclaration, les gens se demandent, ‘Comment pouvons-nous résoudre les problèmes que nous sommes en train de balayer sous le tapis? ”
Il est excitant pour nous de voir la portée de notre atelier des femmes écrivains et comment il aide à amplifier la voix des femmes. Nous vous invitons à faire partie de l’édition de cette année qui se tiendra en Juillet-Août. Détails à suivre bientôt.[/tp]
AWDF’s Chief Executive Officer’s Forum 2015
AWDF’s Chief Executive Officer’s Forum 2015
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]AWDF’s Next Chief Executive Officer’s Forum will be held from 25-27 March 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The three-day programme organized by AWDF’s Capacity Building unit, is designed to support participants’ personal and organizational development.
This year’s forum will be attended by 20 top and middle-level managers from five African countries. They will receive coaching under a new, expanded coaching and mentorship project on Leadership and Governance, aimed at strengthening the capacity and governance frameworks of women’s organisations across the continent. Board members of the various organizations would also be joining in the forum, making a total of 35 female executives expected to benefit from the convening.
The CEO Forum forms part of AWDF’s commitment to strengthening the leadership of women’s organisations in Africa. It provides a safe space for the leadership of women’s organisations to discuss strategic leadership issues, offer hands-on coaching, sharing and reflection time, and an opportunity to network.
AWDF’s CEO forum is designed specifically to foster a safe and enabling creative environment, imbued with feminist values, for the renewal of participants’ energy and spirit.
” l am excited about the project because this provides us with the opportunity to address key issues challenging the growth and robustness of women’s organisations in Africa, in order to promote the rights and development of women. “ says Nafi Chinery, AWDF’s Capacity Building Specialist.
This would be AWDF’s fourth CEO convening.[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le prochain Forum des Chefs de Direction s’AWDF se tiendra du 25 au 27 Mars 2015 à Nairobi, au Kenya.
Le programme de trois jours organisé par l’unité de renforcement des capacités d’AWDF, est conçu pour soutenir le développement personnel et organisationnel des participants.
Le forum de cette année sera suivi par 20 gestionnaires de cinq pays africains de haut et de niveau intermédiaire . Ils recevront une formation sous une forme nouvelle: du coaching et un projet de mentorat élargi, le leadership et la gouvernance, visant à renforcer les cadres des capacités des organisations de femmes et de la gouvernance à travers le continent. Les membres du conseil d’administration de diverses organisations se joindraient au forum, soit un total de 35 femmes cadres qui devraient profiter de la convocation.
Le Forum des CD fait partie de l’engagement d’AWDF de conforter le leadership des organisations de femmes en Afrique. Il offre un espace sûr pour les dirigeants des organisations de femmes pour discuter des questions de leadership stratégique, offrir des pratiques de coaching, le partage, le temps de la réflexion, et une occasion de faire du réseautage.
Le Forum des CD d’AWDF est spécifiquement conçu pour favoriser un environnement créatif sûr et favorable, imprégné de valeurs féministes, pour le renouvellement de l’énergie et de l’esprit des participants.
“Je suis enthousiasmée par le projet parce que cela nous donne l’occasion d’aborder les questions clés contestant la croissance et la robustesse des organisations de femmes en Afrique, afin de promouvoir les droits et le développement des femmes.” Dit Nafi Chinery, spécialiste de renforcement des capacités d’AWDF.
Ce serait le quatrième rassemblement des Chefs de Direction d’AWDF.[/tp]
AWARD Job Vacancy: Deputy Director, Gender Responsive Agriculture
AWARD Job Vacancy: Deputy Director, Gender Responsive Agriculture
Position: Deputy Director, Gender Responsive Agriculture
Deadline: January 19th, 2015
Background (About AWARD)
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is an organisation dedicated to accelerating agricultural gains across Sub-Saharan Africa by investing in the scientific and leadership skills of Africa’s leading women agricultural scientists. AWARD is cultivating a growing pool of African women to be (a) effective within ARD institutions supporting the agricultural value chain; (b) effective across a range of research disciplines serving the sector; (c) responsive to gender issues in the service of women, without excluding men; and (d) technically competent to generate innovations needed by rural smallholders, most of whom are women.
Job Summary
The Deputy Director, will work closely with the Director on major initiatives that raise AWARD’s regional and global profile as a leader in the Gender Responsive Agriculture Agenda. The incumbent will oversee AWARD’s Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation, Communications, and Data Analysis units, ensuring that they support the program (both internally and externally) in building an expertly informed focus on gender responsive agriculture for Africa. The ideal candidate will be a compelling leader, able to translate data on gender and agriculture into compelling narratives and action points, and share these in a variety of formats with key players in global agriculture arena.
Skills and Qualifications
This is an internationally recruited post, based in ICRAF in Nairobi, which is open to men and women of all nationalities. You should have:
- A Masters or PhD in agricultural research or social science, with a particular focus on gender and gender-responsive research.
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in gender-responsive agricultural research and development, with international experience in Western and Southern Africa being particularly advantageous.
- A proven track record of communicating program results to a variety of audiences, with skills in monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, communication, and/or public relations.
- Excellent leadership, supervisory, planning and organization skills.
- Creative, conceptual and analytical thinker with strong analytical skills, expertise in handling both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Effective communication, presentation and problem handling skills.
- Must be “digitally savvy” with demonstrated affinity for social media, electronic data management systems, and/or other online tools.
- Team-building skills with a collaborative management style.
- Ability to forge and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of representatives of AWARD’s diverse stakeholders.
To Apply
The application can be found here. To learn more about AWARD, click here.
Strengthening Communities’ Knowledge and Action towards Preventing Violence against Women
Strengthening Communities’ Knowledge and Action towards Preventing Violence against Women
The Aowin District is a newly created jurisdiction in the Western region of Ghana with a population of approximately 30,000 residents. The district has a large migrant farmer community as it falls in the High Forest Zone. Many of the migrant community members come to the district capital of Enchi from the neighbouring country of Togo.
Although the district exhibits a wide diversity of culture and a rapidly expanding population, the community has a high incidence of violence against women, including physical and verbal assaults. Marital disputes amongst migrant farmers, who live on their farms for most of the year, are also quite common. Most incidents result from differing perceptions about how home and business activities should be conducted. For example, disputes can develop over how profits are divided from produce sales, the lack of profit made from produce sales, the best handling procedures for meat and other produce or how maintenance practices are conducted in the home. Conflicts also can erupt if a wife refuses to yield to the sexual demands of her husband.
During the period of May to September 2014, hundreds of cases of violence against women were reported to the District Ghana Police Service and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) at Enchi.
Some of these reports include the following assaults:
- A husband hit the back of his wife’s head with a masher (locally called tapoli) resulting in her death
- A baby was left outside for a pig to feed on while a husband and wife were fighting
- A woman was drowned to death in a barrel of water as a result of being suspected of cheating on the husband
- A husband cut his wife’s fingers because food was not ready at the time he desired it
- A wife was assaulted because she refused to have sex with her husband because they already had many children and she was forbidden from using birth control measures.
- A man shot his wife as a result of suspected cheating
- A man hit his wife in the head resulting in her death because the wife complained of a lack of maintenance in the home
- A husband kills his wife and baby because she left pork meat unrefrigerated and it became rotten.
This stark reality forms the background for a new project by AWDF grantee partner, the Women Youth Forum for Sustainable Development (WYFSD), to share critical information about gender based violence with migrant farmer communities. WYFSD is implementing an initiative to provide inhabitants, particularly migrant farmers and traditional leaders, in the communities of Asuoklo, Angunzu, Kankaboin, Jensue, Anvohkro and Tanokro with knowledge on the effects of violence against women. Together, the six (6) communities can evolve potentially effective systems to better address gender based violence. As a part of this project, WYFSD has also established anti-gender based violence committees to exchange lessons and strategies in the selected communities.
Lessons learnt
Unfortunately, the communities are situated far away from police stations and many men take advantage of this fact. A number of the women subjected to domestic violence are reluctant to report because of fear of provoking a confrontation or ending their marriages.
The most surprising revelation learnt during the implementation of this project was that a majority of domestic conflicts begin with a disagreement over the proper maintenance of the home. A high level of poverty and the lack of alternative sources of income are also key indicators in addressing the issue of violence against women in the Aowin District.
A lack of balanced and healthy communication among couples is also a major issue. Many women are pushed to the physical brink every day, labouring on farms, caring for families and households all while not receiving any independent income for their efforts.
Short Term Outcomes
The formation of anti-violence committees has improved the security of women by monitoring incidences and supporting the linkage to appropriate law enforcement agencies. Authorities such as the police, assembly officers, chiefs and queen mothers, have been sensitised and are supporting the process.
The project was also able to fully sensitise 1,000 men and women on the harmful socio-economic impacts of violence against women for perpetrators, including the possibility of being arrested, imprisoned or even assaulted.
Through this project, male participants also learn how women are capable partners in life, work and community development. Men and women participants are taught how to practically avoid violence, disagreements and intimidation in the home. In fact, the chief of Tanokro, one of the project communities, was so supportive of eradicating gender based violence, he immediately joined the project implementation team.
Multiple area church leaders have also agreed to integrate messages about gender based violence within religious and evangelical activities. Several local FM stations have decided to share information on the elimination of gender based violence with their listeners. With the support of AWDF, the anti-violence committees will continue to meet with chiefs, elders, queen mothers, assembly officers and community members to discuss and enact mobilisation methods to effectively prevent gender based violence.
Article by: Rose Buabeng, AWDF Programme Officer for Anglophone Africa
Grantee Highlight: ISORE Women Initiative for Sustainable Development Commemorate World AIDS Day
Grantee Highlight: ISORE Women Initiative for Sustainable Development Commemorate World AIDS Day
World AIDS day Dec 1, 2014
World AIDS day was even more of a success than hoped for the ISORE Women Initiative for Sustainable Development based in central Uganda, a small NGO and an AWDF grantee. The day-long event which kicked off Monday, eventually ran an extra two days, unplanned, but hugely successful.
“This has been our first time to recognise World AIDS day and it has attracted many people,” said Christine Aumo the group’s Executive Director.
The event brought together the ISORE women and several members of the local community and government. They included Dr. Atai Betty, a representative from the Health Ministry who was guest of honour, local council members from the Mawatto division and community elders.
ISORE’s activities included free testing, HIV-AIDS counseling, distribution of condoms and education and took place in Kiwanga in the Mukono district.
The younger kids were not left out of the action. Pupils of a primary school in Kiwanga read poems while the Kiwanga youth put on plays, all centred around HIV/AIDS.
“It is the hope that the success of the event will encourage more women and men to open up about their status and seek the care and support that they need,” said Christine.
Out of over nearly 200 men and women who were tested on Dec 1 and 3, five individuals tested positive for HIV. They included a couple and three singles between the ages of 18-34, who were referred to counsellors as well as outreach centres for treatment. In addition, all of them are currently under ISORE Women’s care and support.
Days two and three were equally as successful. “The turn up was good,” enthused Christine.
Another 19 out of 146 people tested on the last day came back with HIV positive results, out of which 12 were female, Christine said.
The group has planned a debriefing and “way forward” meeting for Monday Dec. 8.
Women’s Learning Partnership’s Gender Based Violence Film Screenings
Women’s Learning Partnership’s Gender Based Violence Film Screenings
In observance of the global 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence campaign the Women’s Learning Partnership is hosting a free online screening of two short films on eliminating gender based violence around the world.
The screenings will also be interactive, allowing the audience to share their thoughts and reactions via chat. The chat is non-moderated and audience-focused, however participants are encouraged to be respectful in their exchange. The goal is to facilitate an insightful global discourse on the pertinent issue of gender based violence. The details on the films and their screenings are as follows:
‘Film 1
From Fear to Freedom: Ending Violence Against Women
A 40-minute film featuring activists and scholars from across the globe discussing the root causes of gender-based violence, sharing strategies to combat it, and providing inspiring accounts of the important milestones already achieved through the international women’s movement.
2 screenings: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014, @ 10:00 am & 3:30 pm EST
To join a screening at the time of the event CLICK HERE,
or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://abanlearning.
Film 2
Waiting on Justice
A 30 minute film that follows a selection of cases handled by WLP’s partner organization in Mauritania L’Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille (AFCF) as they fight on behalf of victims while demanding justice and accountability from the Mauritanian authorities.
2 screenings: Monday, December 8th, 2014, @ 10:00 am & 3:30 pm EST
To join a screening at the time of the event CLICK HERE,
or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://abanlearning.
For social media interaction, use hashtags #16days & #GBVTeachin to share your remarks on the films and tag the Women’s Leaning Partnership @wlp1!
“Together we can make a difference and end Violence Against Women. “‘
To learn more about the event, click here.
A New Kind of Dance: Book Launch Supported by AWDF
A New Kind of Dance: Book Launch Supported by AWDF
We are excited to announce the launch event of the book, A New Kind of Dance, by our grantee partner, Habiba Dangana Foundation (HADIS), in Nigeria. The book is written by Amina Salihu, a development consultant with a well of knowledge and experience in building women’s political participation. The African Women’s Development Fund contributed $15,000 to the completion of this project.
Sarah Mukasa, AWDF’s Director of Programmes shares, “This publication charts the experiences of women in politics in Northern Nigeria. It makes a very useful contribution to our understanding of what works and what doesn’t and how women should be supported in electoral processes.”
A New Kind of Dance is the first of its kind written from the perspective of someone observing a campaign trail and organising women to be politically active. The uniqueness of this book is that no one had ever documented the multi-dimensional experiences of a woman on the campaign trail before. Salihu details stories as a spouse, a mobilizer and a campaign leader in Northern Nigeria. The book has also been translated into Hausa as Sabuwar Gada.
With the release of this book, Salihu hopes to accomplish the following objectives:
- Increase women’s qualitative participation in the 2015 elections
- Strengthen the knowledge base of young girls and women across selected public schools
- Mature the confidence of women whose work and voices are captured in the book
- Create a richer awareness by making the book available for strategic distribution to partners and stakeholders.
The launch of A New Kind of Dance takes place at the Women’s Development Centre Central Area in Abuja on Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 at 10am prompt. The event is open to the public.
Thank you to the HADIS Foundation and author Amina Salihu for creating free e-book versions of A New Kind of Dance to share with women worldwide! ( English and Hausa versions). Hard copies of the book can also be purchased on Amazon.
The WHEAT Trust Launches FemPress
The WHEAT Trust Launches FemPress
The WHEAT Trust, a grantee partner of AWDF, will launch FemPress, a publishing house to amplify the visibility of grassroots women and their stories next month.
I am the Rose
If you are in the Cape Town (SA) area, join the December 2nd launch festivities which include the unveiling of I am the Rose, a collection of poetry and art by Zulfa Abrahams.
Zulfa Abrahams is a poet, artist and feminist scholar from Cape Town, with an interest in identity politics, gender and embodiment and mixed media visual art. She has MA in Women’s and Gender studies where she examined Muslim women and the politics of power and gender. She is currently undertaking her doctoral study which focuses on emerging technologies, women,power and education.
Recently, Zulfa has taken a keen interest in expanding her artistic work as a sketch artist and painter to include a number of mediums. She is particularly interested in the ways in which visual art empowers and provides a feminist space for intellectual creativity.
Inspiring women such as Diana Ferrus and Dr. Nadia Sanger will be leading the conversation at the launch.
FemPress, a publishing house for grassroots women stories in Africa
Grassroots women are sorely under-represented in the dialogue surrounding the issues that most affect their lives. Thus, they are often robbed of their physical and literary voices.
Instead of speaking on their behalf, The WHEAT Trust strongly believes that they deserve the opportunity to tell their own stories.
In April 2013, WHEAT hosted a writing skills workshop for some Western Cape grantees that work in the field of Gender Based Violence in their communities.
They published a first book containing these grantees’ personal stories born from the workshop. The book was entitled Every Scar Tells a Story.
This has inspired other women, like Zulpha, to come forth and tell their stories, and highlighted the need for a platform through which to raise their voices.
Thus, it is WHEAT’s aim that the launch of FemPress will enable women to share their stories, articulate their needs and share in the mainstream media in print as well as the additional digital platform.
To find out more about The WHEAT Trust and how you can help, visit the organisation’s website.