Overview of all Newsletters


1999: Vol.1,No.1 | Vol.1,No.2 | Vol.1,No.3

2000: Vol.2,No.1 | Vol.2,No.2 | Vol.2,No.3 | Vol.2,No.4

2001: Vol.3,No.1 | Vol.3,No.2 | Vol.3,No.3 | Vol.3, No.4

2002: Vol.4,No.1 | Vol.4,No.2

2003: Vol.5,No.1 | Vol.5,No.2

2004: Vol.6,1 | Vol. 6,2 | Vol.6,3 | Vol.6,4

2005: Vol.7, No.1 | Vol.7, No.2 | Vol.7, No.3 | Vol.7, No.4

2006: Vol. 8, No. 1 | Vol. 8., No. 2 | Vol. 8. No.3 | Vol. 8, No. 4

2007: Vol. 9, No. 1 | Vol. 9, No. 2 | Vol. 9, No. 3 | Vol. 9, No. 4

2008: Vol. 10, No. 1 | Vol. 10, No. 2 | Vol. 10, No. 3




Content of Page »Vol.5,No.1«




Forward from the editor

S. Tesfai, International Coordinator

In rural Africa and, many ecosystems are on the verge of collapse. The interplay of social, ecological, and political-economic forces has compromised the ability of farmers to sustain their precious soil. As a result, farmers, and especially women farmers, face a constant daily struggle to survive. In general, women have less access to land than men. When women do own land, the holding tends to be smaller and located in more marginal areas. Consequently access to land and credit availability continues to pose problems for rural women in almost all of African countries.

 

The international inWent -NECOFA Workshop discussed in detail the complexity and diversity of women's lives in these countries and hence focuses some of its program topics:

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RELEVANCE OF GENDER FOR ECOFARMING

(GROUP 2)

 

PLEASE DEFINE NECESSARY STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS!

 

Gender: This is a social construct denoting sexual differences between men and women, girls and boys.

 

Ques: What is the relevance of gender for NECOFA activities.

1. To begin with mostly project groups are dominated by women. This brings women's issues very much to the forefront in most activities.

2. It is therefore unfortunate that when we think of gender we tend to think of women exclusively. This should not be allowed and therefore should be vigorously discouraged. Gender issues should be addressed for both men and women.

 

NB: We have to recognize though that presently women have been more disadvantaged than men and society has to attend to this disparity. This makes gender relevant for NECOFA activities.

  1. The group considered the following factors to be the reasons for this disparity, this in equality:Cultural limitations
  2. Religious dictates
  3. Cast systems in existence
  4. Attitudes that govern inheritance of land
  5. Women's voices absence in the political arena
  6. Women's assumed inferiority complex
  7. 7. Over burdening roles for the up keep of the family
  8. Heightened rate of divorce
  9. Men tending to die earlier

Ques: In which areas of rural development are women not granted equal rights and chances as men?

 

Ans: Women are not allowed rights to own.

Land in most African countries.

 

Water issues are hardly over attended to yet this resource is crucial to main´s existence and therefore crucial to the work that the women do every minute of the day.

 

Education for a very long time boys were favoured over girls when families had to decide which child to educate because of limited resources or often times because of cultural attitudes. This has resulted in very high illiteracy in women.

 

Credit Facilities with money lenders-Banks are not readily available to women because of their lack of collateral-no land or valuables to use as collateral Accessing development funds-for they are grossly lacking in business or financial management and business record keeping skills because of their lacking education.

 

Power/Control much centralised in their male counterpart. Decision making thus lies with the man. Women rendered invisible in the political arena.

 

Poor health facilities impact severance on women during their child bearing years Of -course this compromise their performance in farming activities.

Polygamy- may be another area where women's right are compromised.

 

Ques: What are the major problems of women in rural development

Land availability, water and credit/funding

Modern/appropriate technology is not gender sensitive.

Restrictive attitudes of "possessive" and over controlling husbands and men.

The principles of democracy not understood therefore lacking in application in

 

Ques: What are the tasks of NECOFA to sensitize society and target member groups with Regard to gender equality

§ NECOFA COUNTRY GROUPS SHOULD HAVE:

 

  1. Specific workshops to address gender issues targeting both men and women together.
  2. Develop NECOFA policies to be inline with existing country policies where possible. Reviewing country policies where necessary.
  3. Develop women specific NECOFA interventions e.g. accessing funding for development Accessing credit where necessary.
  4. Train and empower both male and women NECOFA facilitators in dealing or addressing gender issues.
  5. NECOFA facilitators and members to be prepared to sensitize society on gender issues at all levels where it is possible.
  6. Integrate approaches to address both men and women together as much as possible.
  7. Consult with specialists in the topics wherever possible.
  8. Conduct workshops to educate around the issues of development as it applies in society at all levels. Working with partners in development.
  9. Conduct workshops specifically to address the issues of human rights and obligations as these apply to our races in society at all levels.
  10. Address health issues by inviting relevant persons to NECOFA activities. This will assist NECOFA at country level to integrate issues of HIV/AIDS other burning health and social issues in our countries.
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3- MOBILIZATION AND SUPPORT OF WOMEN

(GROUP 3)

 

How to mobilize more Women Farmers/Women Farmers Group for ECOFARMING PROMOTION and implementations with our means.

 

Survey of the present situation

Define way forward

Use various means such as:

Involve men/husband in all activities, Use:

Which specific activities/programs/project should be developed to address the special Needs of Women in farming and Rural Development?

The above activities could be done by:

Methodology/approach that could be used:

How to get Funds of Donor Organisations for such kind of activities

Next step:

Project implementation

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4- METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO GENDER ISSUES

(GROUP 3)

How to increase and enhance women's participation who are usually intimidated by the presence of men in their group?

How to avoid conflicts?

How to increase and enhance women's participation who are usually intimidated by the presence of men in their group.

Inorder for the group to respond to this question, we had to start by analyzing these phrases: "Increase and Enhance, Participation and Intimidation" and came with the following approach.

 

Intimidation factors affecting women

Method: approach to redress these factors are provide training on behavioral changes (both sexes)

 

Sensitization programs :

Capacity

Confidence building in:

Lobbying and Advocacy

Projects

Causes of Conflict:

Conflict Management:

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5- GENDER EQUITY AND FEMALE PARTICIPATION WITHIN NECOFA

(GROUP 5)

What are necessary strategies to address more female experts and leaders to become active NECOFA members:

Causes for low number of active female experts in NECOFA

Strategies

How gender and special women related issues shall be taken care of by NECOFA country groups Special issues of women

Strategies:

Which New Organizational Structures should be set?

Modify or set up organigramme specifying special programmes and may be organs to tackle special issues of women.

 

How to ensure gender equity within the NECOFA country boards?

Try as much as possible to ensure equal representation of women and men in country, regional boards.

 


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