Elements to success and specific needs Hallo Members Some of the successful elements that could be explored would including looking at: * Use of ICT tools that translate into or are linked to Economic benefits. The choice of the tools to use should also be simple and affordable. *Mainstreaming of gender concerns into policies especially at National levels should be intersectoral rather than a sector approach. *Use of Gender disaggregated data in addressing equitable access so that women concerns are addressed based on empirical evidence, rather than assumptions. *Integration of Gender Analysis frameworks in agricultural projects. *Exchange visits where such initiatives are in practice is also inspiring especially to rural women as seeing is "believing" and can convince one that such projects are feasible. *Least but not last is that Networking and advocacy are powerful tools that should not be ignored. Some of the specific needs and these are closely linked to challenges that rural women face in participating in projects include * Literacy levels and need for literacy classes. These should be addressed as they contribute to the success of such projects. *Trainings are more meaningful when conducted where the women are located are as opposed to bringing women to a central location like Telecentres which intimidate most rural women due to various cultural and literacy issues. *Appropriate choice of ICT tools to use, that are user friendly, affordable and cut across literacy barriers are some of the specific needs that need to be addressed Further reference can be made at [u]http://kic.wougnet.org[/u], on some of the work that WOUGNET has done with Rural women, ICTs and agriculture information, on a project supported by CTA in Northern Uganda. Regards, Janet Achora WOUGNET

Anupama and Maureen raise some very important points in challenges regarding training. Due to social, cultural, literacy issues especially in rural areas, Many factors come into play. In a typical rural agricultural area, Women will come after 11:am when they have first gone to the gardens, prepared a meal for the children and will have to leave before 4.00 Pm again to be home in time, before the husband comes home. Literacy may also affect the quality of the training, trainers therefore need to be aware of various gender issues at play in such contexts and adapt accordingly. Janet C. Achora WOUGNET

M & E: How do we collect evidence that is useful ? In consultation with the community members, partners and/or stakeholders, specific indicators would need to be identified and agreed on to be used for monitoring progress towards output targets, milestones, social, economic and environmental outcomes. At the project design level, gender disaggregated roles would have to be explicitly addressed in all objectives, especially on • Gender-differentiated data collection including for baselines and impact assessments that take into account gender issues to capture differing roles and benefits for men and women. • Technologies would need to be developed that deliver particular benefit to women's needs. For example in agriculture (e.g., reducing drudgery and adding value to post-harvest, processing and food preparation operations that are typically carried out by women). The first order impacts of the project induced by delivery of specific outputs would include changes in technology adoption; crop yields, area and production; changes in practices and level of inputs; changes in production costs and profitability; changes in institutional capacity and policy; changes in attitudes and risks faced by farmers; and empowerment and reduced workload for women. The second order impacts that would need to be considered are those that result in the long term include changes in producers and consumer welfare due to income and price effects; changes in consumption, food and nutritional security; changes in distributional impacts (e.g. different wealth groups, marginal farmers, women, and workers); changes in social conditions (poverty, education, health, attitudes, role of men and women in society); changes in resource management and environmental conditions (soil, water and biodiversity); and other spill over and indirect economy-wide effects. Overall methodologies like the Gender Evaluation methodologies that have been tested and used for example by Women of Uganda Network in assessing some of their impacts in projects can also be used in M & E. This would enable data collected to give reflections of the impact of the intervention both to the communities(Men and women) and development partners. Janet C Achora Women of Uganda Network - WOUGNET

Hallo, My name is Janet C Achora I work with Women of Uganda Network in the Information Sharing and Networking Program. I have participated in a number of online discussions but none on ICTs, Gender and e-Agriculture! Although in the last two years we have been holding foras on eAgriculture,(Lango Form on eAgriculture) and it involves rural women farmers, policy makers and the community in Northern Uganda only, it will be interesting to learn from what is taking place at the global level. On a different note, I would like to welcome you to this exciting forum and I look forward to the experiences that will be shared. Warm regards,