Search / Search Results Date Added to Site: 22nd October 2005     Long Summary Title Engendering ICT Policies in Africa WSIS Gender Caucus Efforts Author Etta, F. Publication Date May 2005 Publisher The World Bank (WB) Long Summary What has the role of the WSIS Gender Caucus been in engendering WSIS and its processes in Africa? This short document summarizes the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Gender Caucus (GC) engagement in Africa since December 2003. Created in Bamako in 2002, the WSISGC has been actively participating in the United Nations (UN) regional preparatory conferences and made proposals and recommendations at these and at other high level meetings on gender and ICTs. From the information gathered at conferences it has organized since 2004, the GC has also clarified its position on the outstanding issues of Internet governance (IG) and financing. As a result of its efforts, a number of African women were trained to analyse ICT projects, programmes, national ICT policies and e-strategies from a gender perspectives. Continuing challenges for the GC include: the near absence of gender advocates in policy-making structures and decision making positions at the national and international levels, underdeveloped gender and ICT theories and analytical frameworks, weak or non existent gendered indicators, to support lobbying efforts for gender-sensitive ICT policies. With regard to Internet Governance, the GC supports: - Equal representation of women and men in all ICT governance structures. - Gender analyses and indicators of all policy instruments and positions. - Equal involvement of men and women in implementation and Research and Development. - Capacity development for women in ICTs. With regard to Internet financing, the GC supports: - The Digital Solidarity Fund, along side other financing mechanisms. - Increased funding for Gender and ICT projects at the community level, particularly the ability to access funds earmarked in Sector Wide Approaches (SWAPs) for women's issues. - Dedicated funding arrangements for experimental and innovative projects on women and gender and ICTs. Summary Source adapted from report Complete Document View MS Word Document