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What is
Gender Festival?
Gender Festival is an open forum for like-minded
individuals and organizations to share experiences,
knowledge, build capacity and plan collectively for social
transformation with a gender perspective. This four -day
event integrates gender focus groups, civil society
organizations, activists, government sectors and other actors
working at various levels.
The
2005 Gender Festival (GF) was held from 6th to 9th September,
2005 in Mabibo, Dar es Salaam with the theme "Gender, Democracy
and Development: Popular Struggles for an Alternative and
Better World". The activist-style Festival combined speeches,
paper presentations, case studies and workshops with art
performances and an exhibition. The bi-annual event was
organized by the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) and
the Feminist Activism Coalition (FemAct).
Due
to the compelling nature and relevancy of the theme, the
conference attracted over 2000 participants throughout the
course of the 4-day event. The countries represented included
Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi,
Uganda, United States, United Kingdom, and others.
Organizations and institutions represented included FOWODE
Uganda, UNIFEM, SNV Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, CARITAS Tanzania,
Parliament of Uganda, AMKA HIV - Group, Parliament of Tanzania
and others.
Local participants attended the conference from a wide-range of
backgrounds. Participants were primarily from civil society
organizations based at national, district and local levels.
These include delegations from TGNP's Intermediary Gender
Networks as well as large number of representatives from CBOs,
particularly youth groups, based in Dar es Salaam and
up-country.There were also a delegation from Government
Ministries and international NGOs. Participants came from all
over the country and as far as Lindi, Bukoba, Kigoma, Rukwa,
Zanzibar to mention but a few.
Hon.
Joseph Sinde Warioba, a former Prime Minister of the Republic
of Tanzania and the former Chairperson of Presidential
Commission was the Guest of Honour. He officially opened the
festival on 6th September. The keynote address was issued by
Ms. Njoki Njoroge Njehu, the Executive Director Solidarity
Africa Network in Action /Daughters Mumbi Resource Centre in
Nairobi Kenya. Hon. Warioba also launched the Exhibitions,
where a newly published book titled Wanawake wa Tanu (TANU
Women) was launched. Each day was opened by a plenary session,
while workshops were held in the late morning and every
afternoon focused on specific themes. Strategies for the way
forward were developed on the last day and shared in the Closing
Ceremony. The conference was officially closed by
This broad and diverse audience combined with quality speakers
and participatory methodology provided a key opportunity for
like-minded actors from a range of settings inside and outside
the country to share knowledge , reflect and initiate new
analysis/action on gender, , women's empowerment and social
transformation within the context of anti- globalization
struggles, celebrate activist struggles and achievements in
advocating and realizing social transformation at different
levels and areas of society, broaden and strengthen the
coalition of likeminded individuals and organizations at the
local, national and international levels to spearhead,
influence and advocate for pro-poor gender progressiveness in
development, enhance gender transformative skills and conceptual
framework, building on participants' own experience and
knowledge and contribute to public debate on issues relating to
the Gender Festival F theme.
The success of the conference can be attributed in part to the
commitment of the organizing team and the range of support that
the conference attracted. The conference was organized by TGNP
and FemAct actors along with like-minded friends and partners.
A number of donor partners also supported the conference in
various ways. First, TGNP's donor partners who have contributed
to TGNP's plan of action under a basket funding arrangement .
These are, Hivos, EU, CORDAID and Misereor. A number of
institutions and organizations also contributed to TGNP and some
of the Intermediary Gender Networks to sponsor various aspects
of the Gender Festival, including supporting participants from
upcountry and beyond. These include the Gatsby Trust, Care
International Tanzania, UNICEF, UNIFEM Nairobi, Unitarian
Universalist Services Committee and others who provided support
to various aspects of the Festival.
More
information on the conference, including some of the key
conference papers and pictures, has been posted. Further
information, including the main conference outputs and outcomes,
and strategies developed for the way forward will be posted
shortly. A full conference report will be compiled before the
end of the year and excerpts will also be posted on the
web-site. Should you need any other information about the
festival, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We encourage all to start making preparations to attend the
2007 Gender Festival! No doubt it will be another event that you
will not want to miss.
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