Global WENT 99 Session Notes

WomenAction2000 Global Women's Networking Training Workshop

NOTES - Day 6 - Saturday October 2nd 1999

STRATEGIC ACTION PLANNING

Mission Statement
To be a global information, communication and media network that enables NGOs to actively engage in the Beijing+5 review process with the long term goal of women’s empowerment, with a special focus on women and media.

Womenaction Structure and working groups
After a presentation of alternative models, participants agreed that the structure of WomenAction 2000 would be a loose network as opposed to a constituted organisation and would have a working structure consisting of:

Section J (Website Content, Alternative Report, Models, Strategic List)

Web Site (facilitators, content, technical)

Fund raising (Proposals, contacts, Budgets, Visits)

Media Outreach: Press releases, press lists, journalists, CONGO, other groups

steering committee

We noted the importance of addressing the difficulties/challenges of one organisation presenting a proposal to an 'own donor' on behalf of the consortium, particularly where this may jeopardise their own needs/plans.

Womenaction membership and charter
There was great interest in having the possibility of membership of Womenaction. Reflecting the values of the network structure, participants agreed that membership could take the place of adherence to a membership charter, which needs to be developed by a Womenaction Working Group. Membership would then be implied by; endorsement of the charter and an undertaking of responsibilities or participation in WomenAction activities.

Steering Committee representation
Participants agreed that the Steering committee should be composed of:

International Organisations (currently IWTC and APC WNSP, we did not discuss longer term definition or needs for international organisational representation on steering committee)

Regional Representatives, that there not necessarily be a numerical (ie minumum or maximum muber) but that regions decide representation they feel necessary and appropriate for the region.

The current Steering committee was given a mandate to agree upon a coordinator, minumum half-time, by the end of October 99. Regional representatives should also be agreed upon by the end of October 99.

Fundraising and FRG volunteers
Fund allocation and priorities

Fundraising will proceed on activity and budget priorities identified in the actionplan emerging from the Seoul Workshop

Existing funds will be allocated to priorities identified during the Seoul Workshop

The Steering Committee to decide on allocation of new funds based on priorities as defined in the actionplan

Regional and International Considerations

Regions will continue doing their own Fundraising but the Fundraising Working Group will act as liaison where opportunities arise

Where possible and/or appropriate, regions could contribute a 5% line item towards the global initiative.

Efforts must be made to ensure that global or regional fundraising initiatives do not not undermine one another and we should ensure that there is a maximum of information sharing

Policy and ideas for fundraising group to think through

Explore online donations to WomenAction (and be specific about what needs support, such as training or assistance in attending a meeting)

Cooperation with women working as software engineers or in software/harware companies

Corporate support to WomenAction

No funds from the Gates Foundation as it counters our mission to do so

Need to develop policy on long term sources of funding and how it is used

Women Action Shop? - eg online commerce

FundRaising Group Volunteer Criteria

Willing to approach funders for global project and follow up

Be able to Re-write or write proposals

Asset: Strategically located, good contacts

FundRaising Group responsibilities/tasks

To discuss the possibility of advertisements or acknowledgements

Monitor e-mail daily

Monthly progress updates with news bulletin as needed

Explaining Womenaction structure [eg We noted the importance of addressing the difficulties/challenges of one organisation presenting a proposal to an 'own donor' on behalf of the consortium, particularly where this may jeopardise their own needs/plans.]

Requests and needs fast turn around time from Steering Committee

Action Plan and budget allocations
Please note: there are extensive notes to be posted from the three tracks which gives far more detail about the activities in the action plan. These will be posted as soon as possible. Also, no budget figures are attached to this website version.

Media and alliance report back

Asia/Pacific

General frustration with not being able to reach the mainstream media. Common thread: general frustration at not being able to get mainstream population excited in different countries and regions.

Togo and Fiji report on their outreach through radio and newspaper.

Shared good examples of getting mainstream media interested in women’s issues (i.e., Sri Lanka, Nani)

How organisations can cooperate in collecting info about the issue of women and the media

The Beijing+5 issue is not only about the process but about the issues. There’s a need to make that connection

Ensure that women’s groups will be informed about the process and the issues

Gaps in media outreach

Latin America

Isis Chile will centralise info so that a map can be made of the media network

Info dissemination on section J

Media Action strategy

Section-based strategy

Womenaction needs a presentation document after this meeting

Gaps in media stretegies àlist of what is already being done

Focus on radio and print

Community radio stations: Womensnet Project of radio and Web integration (a possible model)

Need for human and financial resources

Use info that is already available rather than to try to generate new info

Networking with women’s electronic networks and organisations

Need for assistance from other regions about other models that have already worked

Community theatre

T-shirt and other campaigns

Existing women’s events to popularise the URL and the review

Need to work hard in connecting with mainstream media

Write press releases that can easily be used regionally and translated

Map the media networks and journalists

How to regional orgs can reach national women’s orgs

Press Releases/Newletters/Bulletin based on the info in the site that will go out into the national groupsIdentified focal points in the regionRegular “fillers” for media

Tools that can be used (i.e., mailing list of press contacts) for media outreach

Proposes that a Press Group be set up

GLOBAL MEDIA STRATEGY

Closely linked with Web development

Looking into focusing on the issues in the BPFA and not just about Beijing+5 process

Clear communication guidelines (logos, branding)

Explore bridging tools for the radio and the Internet

WomenAction Working group nominations

web Summary of tasks:

Liz Probert to continue working on the site on a voluntary basis until funding is available?

Multiple servers for interface and database

Voluntary members to design and conceptualise the site

Hire people to do the actual scripting and implementation

WNSP UK (Liz)- To facilitate

section j Summary of tasks (see action plan)

Chat (ISIS to confirm coordination)

Sally (Facilitator Womenwatch List) - ALAI

Anita (Facilitator Womenwatch List) - WFS

Focal Point for Models to be identified

Media Outreach to be identified

fundraising

Asia representative (c/o Chat)

media/outreach

More time for hands-on for those who wanted to learn

Transversality between the tracks

More work, less talk

Technilogical communication

Informatization and power

More fun, less work

Lots of Powerpoints

Last Updated on 20/10/99
By Karen Banks