IAWRT FOKUS Funding and Support
IAWRT has had a very active and productive first six months of the 2009 financial year, with some solid achievements against our planned outcomes. We continue to operate efficiently and adhere faithfully to terms of the funding agreement with our principal sponsor, the Oslo-based Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS). On behalf of the IAWRT Board, I recently had the pleasure of providing FOKUS with the following report of our activities for the first six months of the financial year to 30 June 2009:
The International Board met face-to-face in Moldova to plan for the 2010-13 program activities as well as to finalise arrangements for the Biennial Conference, Awards for Excellence, the Strengthening of the South activity and IAWRT/FOKUS Study Scholarships. The Board also met via teleconference three times during this six month period, to keep the momentum in the projects and oversee the work of the organisation.
IAWRT Seminar and workshop, Cameroon: The IAWRT Cameroon Chapter played a vital role in setting up a network of media women for peace in Central Africa, when they hosted a three-day sub-regional seminar and workshop in Yaoundé in January 2009. On the theme of "The role and status of media women in armed conflicts, internal disturbances and peace support and promotion operations in CEMAC zone", the workshop also had financial backing from the Embassy of Switzerland in Cameroon to support media women operating in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC).
CSW53 in New York: IAWRT had three representatives at the 53rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in February 2009. Elizabeth Roxas (Philippines) was funded by IAWRT, FOKUS funded Racheal Nakitare (Kenya) and Bandana Rana (Nepal) attended as part of the Asia-Pacific Forum. This year's priority theme was "The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS". It also examined addressing Violence Against Women (VAW) and ways the media can deliver stories of women's development worldwide. Completion of History Project and publication of the book Voices/Pictures: The Story of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television. This project was finished late last year and work commenced in early 2009 to distribute the book to key stakeholders around the world. The book will be officially launched at IAWRT's Biennial Conference in Cambodia in November 2009.
FOKUS Networking Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Six IAWRT members from Norway, India, Kashmir Nepal and Bangladesh participated in this conference with one of them chairing a session. Ananya Chakraborti's 83-minute documentary "Understanding Trafficking" was screened.
Moldova Regional Conference: The conference and Board meeting in Chisinau in May 2009 achieved several important outcomes, including:
A strategic planning meeting with FOKUS on the new funding model: while in Moldova, IAWRT Board and Chapter Heads met with our Project Advisor Jon Rian to be briefed on the new project-to-program funding model. The Board and FOKUS held very useful discussions about ways in which IAWRT could contribute to FOKUS and its partners around the world through its work in the media and media advocacy.
Annual reports by Chapters and evaluation by the IAWRT Board: In Moldova the International Board also met with its Chapter Heads as part of its commitment to bring Chapter Heads together annually and discuss their work and challenges, particularly as they relate to projects, membership, funding and governance. This is a very important opportunity for our Chapters to link back to the organisation and each other and be briefed on the new and on-going initiatives, such as the new funding model. It is also an opportunity for the Board to evaluate progress of the Chapters and ensure that they operate according to our statutes. Planning and preparation for IAWRT Biennial Conference in Cambodia in November 2009: The venue had to be changed to Phnom Penh due to obstacles to holding the conference in Vietnam. This necessitated new negotiations and arrangements, including a site visit to finalise agreements. A significant part of the IAWRT conference budget for 2009 has been allocated to the Biennial Conference and the Awards for Excellence.
IAWRT Awards of Excellence: Submissions have been invited for the IAWRT awards for Excellence in Radio and Television, with US$ 750 for the most outstanding documentary in each medium. Entries must be between 20 and 90 minutes long for film and 15 - 60 minutes for radio and have been broadcast between November 2007 and October 2009. The winners will be announced at the Biennial Conference in Phnom Penh. Television and Radio documentaries on Women's Rights: This year the IAWRT Board has decided to have as its primary focus from the "Strengthening the South" initiative, the production of short radio and television documentaries about women securing their rights. Assessments have been made to fund 11 applications to make 13 radio and TV documentaries, three solely radio, six film only and two for combined radio and television pieces. Because the total funds required exceed our allocation for this project, IAWRT is seeking one-off mid-year funding of NOK 100,000. The IAWRT Board believes the 13 five-minute documentaries - when realised - will make a significant contribution to international debate on women's rights and provide a valuable resource for FOKUS and all its partners. Study Scholarships: Four scholarships totalling US$ 12,000 have been awarded: to help Christine Anam of Kenya pursue her BA degree course in Communications and Sociology at the University of Nairobi; to allow Elizabeth Roxas from The Philippines to attend a four-week Filmmaking Course at Universal Studios in Los Angeles; for Anupa Shestra of Nepal to fulfil her Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism at Kantipur City College, Purbanchal University, Nepal; and to allow Rebecca Okwaci of Sudan to continue her Masters studies in the field of Communications at Daystar University, Nairobi. UN DPI/NGOMeeting in Mexico: Liz Miller (Canada) will attend as IAWRT's representative. The main themes for the conference in September 2009 will be reducing the threats from nuclear armaments and weapons of mass destruction and how human development is global security. Website development: Resources have been allocated to upgrading and further developing the IAWRT website, especially to incorporate chapter sub-sites. The back-end has been redesigned to allow chapters to upload and manage their own material and a guide has been produced explaining how chapter members can carry out all the necessary functions. Olya Booyar |
|||
