[Ict4women] WOUGNET Update Newsletter - February 2009

Mon Feb 9 02:48:58 EST 2009

WOUGNET Update Newsletter - February 2009
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A monthly electronic newsletter from Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
- http://www.wougnet.org

For comments or queries, contact info at wougnet.org

To subscribe/unsubscribe to the WOUGNET Update Newsletter, send a
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This issue's contents:
1. News and Events
2. Tech Support
3. Citizen Journalism
4. Gender and ICT Policy
5. WOUGNET News

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As we begin a new year, we take this opportunity to wish all our
readers a very happy and prosperous new year 2009!

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News and Events
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= 4th Annual IDB Prize for Women's Contribution in Development
   (Deadline: 15 February 2009)
   http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

The promotion of women's participation and contribution to the
betterment of their families, communities and societies is essential
for overall socio-economic development and progress.

In order to encourage the participation of women and increase
opportunities for them to make their contributions to the society and
be recognized for these contributions, the Islamic Development Bank
(IDB) has decided to establish an annual prize for "Women's
Contribution in Development", which will be awarded to the highest
achieving woman, women's group and/or organization in IDB member
countries, or in Muslim communities in non-member countries.

= EASSI celebrates International Day against FGM/C
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=29

6 February is International day Against FGM/C. EASSI chooses this day
to strongly condemn its practice and continue advocacy in the region.
With shared views from stakeholders, partners and friends, EASSI
brings to you  more facts, figures, successes and challenges in this
campaign that has brought tears, joy and strengthened the nerves of
those who stand for what is right. EASSI shares more with you on FGM
under its Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights programme.

= Abstinence until marriage doesn't necessarily prevent transmission
of HIV/AIDS
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_mamblog&Itemid=83

HIV/AIDS has caused immense suffering to the world especially in
sub-Saharan Africa. Women being the most affected. According to the
latest statistics (The New vision 1,December 2008), the increase of
infections is seen in married couples with a percentage of 77% in
Uganda.

= JOBS, INTERNSHIPS & VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=18&Itemid=110

* NUWODU: Advertisement for the post of Programme 0fficer

National Union of women with disabilities of Uganda (NUWODU) is an
indigenous umbrella organization of women with disabilities that
brings together all categories of women with disabilities including
the physically, sensory and mentally impaired women.

* FOWODE: Runyankole editor needed

FOWODE is looking for some one to edit her runyankole booklet.

* ALIN: Opportunities for Community Information Volunteers (CIVs)

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is an International
organisation with activities spread in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and
Ethiopia. Our mission is to enhance livelihoods of communities through
information exchange among community development workers.

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Tech Support
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= February 2009: How to convert a PDF file to Word, Excel or JPG format
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=12&id=36&Itemid=77

Converting to Word is actually pretty simple and can be done directly
using an online file conversion service called Zamzar. Going to Excel
or JPG is a two step process, but nothing very difficult to follow.

= International Camp on Info-Activism, 19 - 25 February 2009
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=29

Info-Activism is an approach which helps rights advocates to
tactically utilize information, communications and digital
technologies to enhance advocacy work.

Tactical Tech has organized an international camp on info-activism
scheduled to take place between the 19th and 25th of February 2009 in
Bangalore, India. The seven-day camp is organized in collaboration
with Aspiration.

= Mobiles in-a-box: Tools and Tactics for Mobile Advocacy
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=62

Tactical Tech announces 'Mobiles in-a-box: Tools and Tools and Tactics
for Mobile Advocacy' - a collection of tools, tactics, how-to guides
and case studies designed to inspire advocacy organisations and
present possibilities for the use of mobile telephony in their work.
 From choosing an audience, to privacy and security issues and also
countering technological challenges, Mobiles in-a-box provides
effective solutions to enable you get started with using mobiles in
your advocacy efforts.

WOUGNET has received 50 copies of the mobiles toolkit (handbook and
CD) for dissemination in Uganda. Recipients will be asked to
participate in an evaluation of the toolkit so that in 2009 Tactical
Tech can assess the impact of the toolkit. If you are interested in
receiving a copy of the toolkit, please send a note to
info at wougnet.org with the following information: (1) Contact name and
email and (2) Organisation name and address.

For more information or for assistance in managing your computer and
in using the Internet, contact techsupport at wougnet.org

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Citizen Journalism
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= CJA blogs on Uganda available via WOUGNET website

Follow the blogs on the Citizen Journalism in Africa (CJA) website
that are focused on Uganda. The section 'What's New at the CJA Portal:
Uganda' on the WOUGNET website highlights the most recent blogs at:
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=66&Itemid=105

Blogs highlighted include:
# Telecentres of the Future
# Foot and Mouth Disease Affects Lango Sub-Region In Northern Uganda
# Violence Against Women: Who cares
# Shaking my head in disbelief
# Farmers from Mayuge benefitting from a new pilot Project

The Citizen Journalism in Africa project (CJA) is a three-year
initiative funded by both Hivos and the EU. Hivos is working with
SANGONet (South Africa) on this project. The aim of the project is to
increase civil society organisations' use of and interaction with
various forms of media. This will help them maximise their
communication strategies and reach. It is hoped that this will
strengthen the organisations' use of media and increase quality
information dissemination capacity using multiple platforms.

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Gender and ICT Policy
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= Evaluating ICT Initiatives Using the Gender Evaluation Methodology
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=13&Itemid=39

The Gender Evaluation Methodology for ICTs is an innovative evaluation
guide for ICT practitioners seeking an appropriate gender framework
and ICT interventions.  GEM integrates gender analysis into
evaluations of initiatives that uses ICTs for social change and
provides a means for determining whether ICTs are really improving
women's lives and gender relations as well as promoting empowering
change at individual, institutional, community and broader social
levels.

WOUGNET's participation in the development and use of the GEM Tool
started in the year 2002. As a member of the APC, Women of Uganda
Network participated in testing of the GEM tool in Zanzibar, came up
with the action plan on how WOUGNET could use the GEM evaluate its
program. In 2003 the GEM tool was used to evaluate WOUGNET activities
including; the mailing list, electronic newsletter and the website to
get gender disparities in the WOUGNET program. The findings of the
evaluation showed that both men and women access but men more.

= The Need for Gender Sensitive ICT Policy Processes
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=331&Itemid=39

ICTs are a solution to various problems of development and can be very
instrumental in combating poverty, poor governance, disease, market
shortage, gender inequality, female dis-empowerment, low quality
education and constrained access to information. ICTs are a solution
to various problems of development and can be very instrumental in
combating poverty, poor governance, disease, market shortage, gender
inequality, female dis-empowerment, low quality education and
constrained access to information.

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WOUGNET News
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= The Second Lango Forum on e ? Agriculture, 10 February 2009
http://www.wougnet.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=52&Itemid=96

Theme: "e-Agriculture, Gender and ICTs: the role of information in
agriculture and rural development".

Women of Uganda Network with support of the Technical Centre for
Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP - EU (CTA), will hold the
second Lango forum on e-Agriculture in Apac district on the of 10th
February 2009.  The forum will take place at the e-Society Hall,
located at the Apac district Local Government, Apac town.

The purpose of the forum is to sensitize rural women and the community
at large on the role of information in agriculture and rural
development with a gender perspective. Forum participants will share
knowledge on the role of information in agriculture and rural
development, the social challenges and benefits of ICT tools to men
and women including the state of e-agriculture in Uganda.

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The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) website and
mailing lists are hosted by Kabissa - Space for Change in Africa

WOUGNET is supported by APC, CTA, Dimitra/FAO and Hivos

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