Dimitra Workshops

National meetings on information and communication strategies for rural women's networks

Workshops in Senegal and Uganda in February 2007

In February 2007, two of Dimitra's partner organizations, in Uganda and Senegal, organized a follow up activity to the Dimitra/CTA online discussion on rural women's networks that took place from January to June 2006 (read more about the e-discussion).

One of the recommendations of this e-discussion was that in subsequent discussions, grassroots women's organizations and networks - including those without internet access - should be more closely involved, and this through face to face meetings. In support of this recommendation, national meetings have been held in Uganda and Senegal with financial support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA).

Senegal: Empowerment of rural women's networks in the field of information and communication and fight against HIV/AIDS in rural areas

 © ENDA-Pronat

The meeting in Senegal was organized by Dimitra partner ENDA-Pronat and the National Rural Women's Network of Senegal (RNFRS). The five-day intensive training session took place from 12 to 16 February 2007 in Thiès and aimed to introduce the 18 participants to new information and communication technologies, to the online discussion and to the exchange of experiences in the fight against HIV/AIDS in rural areas. In the course of the discussion, the main themes identified were HIV/AIDS and its negative consequences on the agricultural sector, on natural resources and on food security, and HIV/AIDS in the cycle of poverty-malnutrition and agricultural production.

Read the report on the Senegal meeting (in French only)

Further information on the workshop is available from ENDA-Pronat: [email protected]

Uganda: Information and communication strategies for sustainability of rural women's networks

 © WOUGNET

The meeting in Uganda was held on 23-24 February 2007 and was organised by Dimitra partner WOUGNET, Women of Uganda Network. The meeting drew participants from rural women's networks and and organisations working with rural women in 13 districts across Uganda, including Apac, Arua, Busia, Gulu, Kampala, Kasese, Kayunga, Lira, Luwero, Mpigi, Mukono, Nebbi, and Pader. 

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share their views and to discuss the challenges met in networking and dealing with the impact of HIV/AIDS. They were first introduced to the background of the workshop, its structure, a summary of the online discussion report and a presentation of strengthening information sharing and networking among rural women's networks. This was followed by presentations on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Uganda, with a focus on food security and rural communities' livelihoods, and a presentation on reinforcing networking among rural women's organizations. Recommendations were formulated as to how the organizations represented at the meeting could better network on a continuous basis.

Read the report on the Uganda meeting

Further information on the workshop is available from WOUGNET: [email protected]