What is Famedev?
The Inter- African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development ( FAMEDEV) was founded in Dakar (Senegal) in 2000, as a follow-up to a regional conference held in Dakar at the end of 1999 and an Africa Regional Meeting held in Bamako , Mali in 2002 in preparation for the World Summit on Information Society ( WSIS). These conferences were attended by eminent African women and men journalists working in the areas of media , gender, communications, education, Information and Technology and development in Africa. During these meetings, the delegates examined the importance of community media in Africa and the use of Information and Communication Technologies as means of accelerating development and participation.
In addition delegates discussed the situation of women in the media in several African countries, as well as the obstacles they are facing, the challenges, successes and the prospects. They also looked at the scenario in the different countries and regions with regards the media generally, human rights , gender equity, conflicts and how all these impact on the development of our societies.
The delegates reckoned that there was the need to put up an organisation and structure which would specifically address the concerns raised view a view to harness and maximise existing knowledge, resources and expertise in Africa.
It is against this background that FAMEDEV was created with the vision that it can bring together existing Africa based organisations and individuals working in the same areas to address critical issues and share experiences in what FAMEDEV considers to be priority issues if Africa is to make any meaningful development..
The objectives of FAMEDEV are:
- To promote the development of the African Continent through information, communication and new technologies
- To conscientise African people especially women, on main development issues and ways and means of liberating Africa from poverty
- Create and entertain a network for the production, management and exchange of information on pertinent themes such as poverty, freedom of expression, gender equity, human rights, children’s rights, regional integration, civic education, the environment, health and the transfer of technologies.
- To promote information and communication at grassroots level through mass media including community media
- Involve women and men in the media in conflict prevention, management and resolution through civic journalism
- To mobilise and encourage men and women of the media to be more interested and sensitive to health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB which impede Africa’s development
- To promote programmes that are favourable to press freedom , good governance , democracy, regional integration, peace and security in African societies
