FEMNET

FEMNET, formally known as the African Women's Development and Communication Network, is a pan-African civil-society network focused on women's development, gender equality, communication, and human rights. It was established in Nairobi in 1984 by Eddah Gachukia, Njoki Wainaina, and Norah Olembo. The founders created the organization while coordinating African preparations for the Third World Conference on Women, which took place in Nairobi in 1985. FEMNET's early work was therefore closely connected with mobilizing African women, sharing information among organizations, and strengthening the ability of women's groups to participate in international policy processes. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand or commercial enterprise, FEMNET functions as a membership and advocacy network. Its role has included connecting non-governmental organizations, circulating knowledge and practical approaches, supporting organizational capacity, and representing African women's rights concerns in regional and international forums. Its work has involved the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the World Conference against Racism, the African Union, and related African policy mechanisms. Areas of engagement with the African Union have included the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. A major strand of FEMNET's work has been gender training. The organization held its first gender-training workshop in Kenya in 1990 with support from UNICEF and the Canadian International Development Agency. The initiative was designed to train trainers, evaluate the effectiveness of the approach, and develop reusable educational materials. During the 1990s, FEMNET organized further training activity in countries including Swaziland, Zambia, Malawi, and the United States, with support from organizations such as UNFPA, UNICEF, and USAID. In 2000, it conducted train-the-trainer sessions for partner organizations in South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana. The network has emphasized that gender equality work should involve men as well as women, particularly in institutions and professional sectors where gender analysis had previously received limited attention. FEMNET's country-level work has included policy sensitization and institutional training. In Swaziland, assistance supported through UNFPA contributed to gender awareness among senior policymakers and to the inclusion of gender concerns in national planning. In Malawi, work with UNFPA and UNICEF involved political leaders, public agencies, and other organizations. These examples illustrate FEMNET's approach of combining advocacy, education, networking, and policy engagement rather than concentrating solely on public campaigning. The network has also participated in international and regional campaigns. In July 2008, it coordinated the official African launch in Nairobi of the United Nations Gender Equality Architecture Reform campaign. By 2010, FEMNET was reported to have membership and local organizational links in more than 37 African countries. Its public advocacy has included speaking on gender-based violence and failures of justice, including the 2013 Kenyan gang-rape case involving a victim identified publicly as Liz. In 2022, FEMNET collaborated with Whose Knowledge? on a conference in Zambia addressing the decolonization of the internet. FEMNET remains headquartered in Nairobi and is best understood as a pan-African women's-rights network and civil-society support organization.

FEMNET was created in Nairobi in 1984 during preparations for the Third World Conference on Women, held in the same city in 1985. Eddah Gachukia, Njoki Wainaina, and Norah Olembo registered the organization and drafted its constitution to help coordinate African participation in the conference. Gachukia became the inaugural chair. The founding effort also involved Sara Hlupekile Longwe, Pamela Kola, and Mama Koite Doumbia, who helped recruit women to plan the NGO Forum connected with the conference. From its beginning, FEMNET was designed as a network rather than a commercial service provider. It sought to help African non-governmental organizations exchange information, compare approaches to women's development, and cooperate on equality and human-rights work. Over time, the network developed relationships with United Nations bodies, the African Union, and other international policy institutions. Its African Union-related work has included the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Training became an important practical component of the organization's work. FEMNET held its first gender-training workshop in Kenya in 1990 with UNICEF and the Canadian International Development Agency. The workshop focused on training trainers and refining educational methods and materials. Further training sessions took place between 1993 and 1999 in Swaziland, Zambia, the United States, and Malawi, supported by UNFPA, UNICEF, and USAID. In 2000, FEMNET organized train-the-trainer activities for partners in South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana. Its training model was subsequently used by gender trainers in other African countries. FEMNET also argued that men should be involved in gender-equality work, noting that male trainers could help introduce gender analysis into fields such as development research. The organization's work in Swaziland and Malawi illustrated its emphasis on institutional change. In Swaziland, programs supported through UNFPA helped expose senior policymakers to gender concerns and contributed to their inclusion in national plans. In Malawi, FEMNET worked with UNFPA and UNICEF to sensitize political leaders, agencies, and other organizations. In July 2008, FEMNET coordinated the African launch in Nairobi of the United Nations Gender Equality Architecture Reform campaign. By 2010, it was reported to have membership or local organizational activity in more than 37 African countries. Its advocacy has also addressed gender-based violence and accountability. In 2013, President Emma Kaliya commented on behalf of FEMNET on a Kenyan gang-rape case that generated international attention and public protest. In May 2017, Kaliya was re-elected unopposed as president, while Nancy Kinanu Gitonga became treasurer and Charity Binka secretary in the reported board appointments. In September 2022, FEMNET organized a Zambia conference with Whose Knowledge? on decolonizing the internet. The organization is based in Nairobi and continues to operate as a pan-African women's-rights and development network.

• 2022

  Conference on decolonizing the internet

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  FEMNET collaborated with Whose Knowledge? on a conference in Zambia examining the decolonization of the internet.

• 2017

  Emma Kaliya re-elected president

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  Kaliya was re-elected unopposed at a Nairobi meeting, with new board officers reported alongside the election.

• 2010

  Network active in more than 37 African countries

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  FEMNET was reported to have membership and local organizational links across more than 37 African countries.

• 2008

  African launch of the GEAR Campaign

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  FEMNET coordinated the official Nairobi launch of the United Nations Gender Equality Architecture Reform campaign in Africa.

• 2000

  Regional train-the-trainer sessions

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  The organization conducted train-the-trainer sessions for partner organizations in South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.

• 1990

  First gender-training workshop

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  FEMNET held its first gender-training workshop in Kenya with UNICEF and the Canadian International Development Agency.

• 1985

  African participation in the Third World Conference on Women

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  FEMNET supported the organization and mobilization of African women around the Third World Conference on Women and its associated NGO Forum.

• 1984

  FEMNET is established in Nairobi

  [1]FEMNETen.wikipedia.org

  Eddah Gachukia, Njoki Wainaina, and Norah Olembo established and registered FEMNET to coordinate African preparations for the 1985 Nairobi women's conference.

A pan-African women's development and communication network that strengthens civil-society organizations, builds gender-equality capacity, and connects grassroots and national advocacy with African Union and United Nations policy processes.

Product categories. Gender-equality training and trainer-development programs · Civil-society networking and information exchange · Women's-rights advocacy and policy engagement · Human-rights communications and public campaigns · Research, educational materials, and capacity-building resources

• 2022Decolonizing the Internet conference

  Zambia · Africa

  FEMNET organized a conference with Whose Knowledge? to examine how internet knowledge systems and digital participation can be decolonized.

  Source
• 2013Advocacy after the Kenyan gang-rape case

  Kenya · Africa · International

  FEMNET president Emma Kaliya publicly criticized the handling of a Kenyan gang-rape case in which the victim suffered severe disability and the initial sentences were widely viewed as inadequate.

  Outcome. The case attracted international attention, protests involving women from 21 countries, and a petition demanding accountability for both the attackers and officials accused of mishandling the case.

  Source
• 2008Gender Equality Architecture Reform Campaign launch in Africa

  Africa · Kenya

  FEMNET coordinated the official African launch of the United Nations Gender Equality Architecture Reform campaign in Nairobi.

  Outcome. The campaign received an organized African launch and a Nairobi-based platform for regional gender-equality advocacy.

  Source

• 2008

  Coordinate the African GEAR Campaign launchStrategy

  Background

  The United Nations Gender Equality Architecture Reform campaign required regional partners to build awareness and support for stronger gender-equality institutions.

  Action taken

  FEMNET coordinated the campaign's official African launch in Nairobi.

  Aftermath

  The launch strengthened FEMNET's role as a bridge between international gender-policy initiatives and African civil-society networks.

  Source

• 1990

  Adopt a train-the-trainer model for gender equalityStrategy

  Background

  FEMNET's first gender-training workshop was intended not only to educate participants but also to create trainers who could extend the work through partner organizations.

  Action taken

  The organization refined the training approach and developed materials based on workshop results, then expanded sessions across several African countries.

  Aftermath

  The model supported later training activity in Swaziland, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, and other African settings.

  Source

1. 1FEMNETen.wikipedia.org
2. 2FEMNET official websitefemnet.org