This presentation reports on evaluation findings from a three-year initiative working to strengthen the communication and technology skills of women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa. Training, on-going technical assistance and small grants have been provided to 26 women’s NGOs in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda to address media campaign strategy, and the use of email and the Internet to further advocacy and organizational goals. The NGOs work to prevent HIV/AIDS, to disseminate information on safe motherhood, to address violence against women, and to promote women’s rights and empowerment. Qualitative evaluation data will be presented utilizing an innovative methodology in which the partner NGOs themselves participated in designing and implementing the evaluation activities. We will also share lessons learned that will demonstrate that building communications capacity can empower women to more effectively address health issues in Africa such as HIV/AIDS prevention. The presentation will argue for the importance of a combined strategy of traditional and new technologies for sustainable development. We will analyze the strategic role of women’s NGOs in Africa in facing issues such as health care access, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, economic opportunities, and the advancement of women’s rights in the social and political arenas. The Women Connect! model is useful for empowering women’s NGOs that can in turn impart their skills to other NGOs and community based organizations. See www.women-connect.org; www.piwh.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) List three factors that are essential to implementing communications strategies in NGOs, especially in developing countries. 2) Understand the importance of utilizing a combined strategy of traditional and new technologies for sustainable development 3) Propose a plan for working with women’s NGOs in Africa to impact HIV prevention and AIDS treatment programs using communications strategies.
Keywords: Health Communications, Community-Based Partnership
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.