Intergenerational Dialogues for Accountability

To support the implementation of the Action Coalitions commitments at national levels, as well as engage African youth in the 5-year journey with the commitments of the international community of $40 billion, Nalafem partnered with youth organisations to convene dialogues in the communities.

Nalafem IGD For Accountability – South Africa

Centre for Socio Economic Transformation is a youth-led organization operating in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the aim of fostering education, civic engagement, collaboration and partnerships, the development of viable communities and increasing scientific information and local knowledge, while promoting equity and equality for women, girls and vulnerable groups of the society

Welcome Remarks from Pamela Munemo, Founder and Director of Centre for Socio Economic Transformation highlighted the importance of everyone being responsible for the national implementation of the Action Coalition commitments of South Africa.

The dialogue continued with a discussion with Councillor Melanie Brauteseth in eThekwini, Councillor Tembe Mmabatho and Councillor Khosi Mdletshe. The three councillors emphasized the need to create an environment that educates women. Most women and girls are not aware of the commitments made by the government, which makes the role of women at grassroots level important to create platforms and opportunities

Keynote Remarks from her Worship, Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, Nomusa Mqwebu “As a female leader, I must look after my community and make sure they get what they need. I am a mayor who wants to see young people and women growing. When women are given opportunities, they exhaust them and do great work. Women shouldn’t be afraid to take a position of power. Let’s work together as women and help our communities and youth”

The experience of hosting the NalaFem IGD in South Africa was so engaging and insightful. It also made people aware of the government’s commitment towards economic justice and rights and sparked conversations within our local municipalities. My biggest take away was that it’s not too late to turn things around and introduce women to male dominated industries. This whole process was very overwhelming and life changing. I’m excited to do more work and lives and move closer towards generation equality. I really appreciate the opportunity you afforded our organisation.

Centre for Socio Economic Transformation – South Africa

The outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue

Develop awareness campaigns in communities on issues to fight patriarchy in all spheres.
Economic Empowerment of women from the grassroots level by capacitating them with knowledge on business management, innovation and entrepreneurship and business sustainability.
Creation of women start-ups that can exploit opportunities of funds that are made available by various government and NGOs.
Having more of these intergenerational dialogues to strengthen and empower women and girls voices demanding institutionalization of fight against inequality
Advocate for decent quality work, gender sensitive policies and labour rights so that they are able to escape poverty and build prosperity
Inequality is a men’s issue as much as it is a women’s issue. Include more men into the conversation and hold dialogues with men to catalyze the movement and realization of economic justice .
Step up the fight against sexual violence (Today 20th August Minister of Police announced that 10000 women and girls were raped between April and June 2021), address teenage pregnancy (23 000 teenage pregancy in 1 year, some as young as 10 years old to 14years),address girls drop out from school. Without addressing this,we will not reach the full realisation of economic justice .
Ensure that international conventions and related commitments that guarentees women economic justice like CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) are incorporated and constantly realised into the constitution and embedded in the national legal system.
Call upon South African government to implement constitutional provisions that encourage women’s involvement in political and economic activities and ensure diversity in those activities, including in the judiciary through a stronger participation of women judges; develop policies that promote equality in these domains; and monitor implementation of the principle of gender equality.
Development of a range of coherent longer-term programmes aimed at deeper structural change that requires reimagining progressive economic alternatives by going beyond old paradigms.

Nalafem IGD For Accountability – Malawi

For Equality is a Pan-African women’s rights organization that envisions a gender equal and just Africa. For Equality in Malawi.

Ms. Singalilwe Chilemba, Board Member of For Equality “intergenerational dialogue is key because as each generation rises to challenge the status quo, they face a vast range of systematic challenges that they cannot face alone”

Ordina de Barca Vieira, representative of the UN Women Malawi Office “The Generation Equality Forum is the central component for building back from COVID-19 to fuel significant and lasting change for generations to come. Investment in generation equality particularly on the safety, leadership and economic opportunities for women”

Mr. Joseph Kalelo Phiri, representative of the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare “We reiterate the government’s commitment to ensure concrete action in attaining gender equality through the Action Coalitions”

The discussion continued with interventions from:

Tadala Chizimba, Global Advocacy Intern CARE, Feminist and Member of PEPETA
Zilanie Gondwe, Eco Feminist and Director of the Institute of Conservation of Nature and Founder of FEMINATI Jessica Mandanda, Gender and Communication Specialist
Elina Mwasinga, Gender activist

Working and collaborating with NalaFEM was a great experience. Lots of synergies and support from the team to ensure everything went well. Hosting the dialogue was great and an important conversation that needed to be held with young women

For Equality – Malawi

The outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue

Fund community radios to spotlight grassroots organizations
Mobilize traditional leaders to understand feminism and that it benefits everyone Lobby for women to take up leadership positions
Re-amplify the Africa Young Women Beijing +25 Manifesto
Popularize commitments to ensure inclusion of non-binary and LGBTQI persons
Technology has made information more accessible, this can help increase visibility of the movement
Young women should be louder, bolder and disruptive Mentorship is key
Commitments have to be translated and disseminated
Embed feminism ideology into the education system

Nalafem IGD For Accountability – Tunisia

The NalaFEM IGD for Accountability in Tunisia was co-hosted with Jssor Youth Organisation.
Jssor Youth Organisation is a non- profit, non-political and non-governmental organization was firstly started its voluntary work in 2005 by a group of youth who believe in the importance of the civic society organizations and their crucial role in developing the society as well as fostering the democratic process that takes place in the country now.

The NalaFEM Intergenerational Dialogue for Accountability in Tunisia provided an inclusive space for politicians, activists and young women to discuss the increasing role of women in Tunisia in leadership positions, including women’s rights in the digital space while ensuring their protection from cyber harassment and gender-based violence on social media platforms etc.

The discussion continued with interventions from:

Tadala Chizimba, Global Advocacy Intern CARE, Feminist and Member of PEPETA
Zilanie Gondwe, Eco Feminist and Director of the Institute of Conservation of Nature and Founder of FEMINATI Jessica Mandanda, Gender and Communication Specialist
Elina Mwasinga, Gender activist

We have been very lucky to have collaborated with NalaFem to organize the Intergenerational Dialogue in Tunisia. Although the time was very short to organize and coordinate for the event, we have received great support from NalaFem team who showed high professionalism in work and serious commitment in dealing with unexpected events. Being the host for the Intergenerational Dialogue in Tunisia, Jssor Youth Organization had the opportunity to help create a dynamic space for youth-led organizations and decision-makers to come together to discuss Tunisian women’s digital reality. We hope we can be part of advocating for the implementation of recommendations resulting from the Intergenerational Dialogue

Jssor Youth Organisation – Tunisia

The outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue

Taking action against cyber harassment through updating Tunisia’s telecommunications code adopted in 2001
Encouraging victims of cyber harassment to report to legal authorities
Creating a protection system for victims of cyber harassment
Raising-awareness on cyber harassment among youth
Including advanced training on technology and innovation in the educational system IGD Enabling access for rural women to training on digital economy
Advocating for the need to design an advanced infrastructure for technology, including rural areas IGD Encouraging women-led businesses to engage in the digital economy
Enabling rural areas the access to digital services
Including training on digital economy in the early stages of education

Nalafem IGD For Accountability – Burkina Faso

The NalaFEM IGD for Accountability in Burkina Faso was co-hosted with Femin-In. Femin-In is a feminist organisation operating in Burkina Faso, with the aim of advocating for gender equality through capacity building and empowerment of women and girls in the country

Bénédicte Bailou, coordinator of Femin-In provided a background introduction of the objectives of the NalaFEM Intergenerational Dialogue for Accountability, and presented the format of the dialogue followed by remarks from:

Mrs. Madeleine Ouedraogo, representative of the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity and Family guided the participants throughout the journey of the Generation Equality Forum and the development of the commitments from Burkina Faso

Carine Zongo, Project Officer at Initiative Pananetugri pour le Bien-Être de la Femme provided an overview of the commitment through a perspective as a young woman and how relevant these commitments are to ensure the achievement of bodily autonomy for women and girls in the country

The discussion continued with interventions from:

Tadala Chizimba, Global Advocacy Intern CARE, Feminist and Member of PEPETA
Zilanie Gondwe, Eco Feminist and Director of the Institute of Conservation of Nature and Founder of FEMINATI Jessica Mandanda, Gender and Communication Specialist
Elina Mwasinga, Gender activist

C’était un challenge pour mon équipe et moi, d’organiser le dialogue intergénérationnel dans un contexte marqué par le covid et l’insécurité

Femin-In – Burkina Faso

The outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue

Taking action against cyber harassment through updating Tunisia’s telecommunications code adopted in 2001
Encouraging victims of cyber harassment to report to legal authorities
Creating a protection system for victims of cyber harassment
Raising-awareness on cyber harassment among youth
Including advanced training on technology and innovation in the educational system IGD Enabling access for rural women to training on digital economy
Advocating for the need to design an advanced infrastructure for technology, including rural areas IGD Encouraging women-led businesses to engage in the digital economy
Enabling rural areas the access to digital services
Including training on digital economy in the early stages of education

Nalafem IGD For Accountability – Rwanda

The NalaFEM IGD for Accountability in Rwanda was co-hosted with Saye Company.

Saye Company is a social enterprise company that fights teenage pregnancies and menstrual stigma, through social, mental and economic empowerment.

Amina Umuhoza, founder of SAYE Company provided a background of NalaFEM Intergenerational Dialogue for Accountability and presented the format of the dialogue followed by remarks by:

Mr Piette Celestin Nizeyimana, representative of the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion of Rwanda
Amanda Akariza, First runner up of Miss Rwanda 2021 Gaelle Igisubizo, CEO of Dopeapps
Jean Makara, Business and people development consultant
Elizabeth Ujeneza, Gender digital inclusion activist

What emerged is that young people are still not aware of the commitments made by Rwanda, and as such it has to be fostered for dissemination to ensure their full awareness and contribution to the national implementation of the commitments. Similarly, the vital role of young women was highlighted and, in order to attain this, funding has to be allocated to ensure training and resources for youth organizations to lead the work and support the implementation of the commitments. Recognizing how vital the digital revolution has been, it is also important to equip young women with tools to report and be aware of the harms they may experience in digital spaces. Rwanda, being part of East Africa Community can support state parties to achieve gender agenda by:

Raising awareness about the Action Coalitions Commitments of Rwanda, including wider dissemination of the commitments
Funding to youth and young women’s organizations to support the implementation of the Commitments
Addressing cyber harassment and support the victims, including encouraging them to report to legal authorities
Increase funding to ensure access of young women to STEM and digital opportunities;
Ensure these commitments are included and mainstreamed within the East African Community Increase training on digital skills and opportunities for young women

“We were extremely excited to have been selected to co-host intergenerational dialogue for accountability in Rwanda with Nalafem. We had full support from Nalafem in terms of quick transfer of funds to organize, technical support in terms of branding materials, sending invitations to key speakers of the day on time etc. We are happy that the people who attended this dialogue walked away with an understanding of Nalafem and its contribution to social and economic empowerment of women in all sectors”

Saye Company, Rwanda

The outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue

Digital platforms must be designed to protect women from sexual and gender-based violence. It is also vital that these platforms are effectively employed to advocate, promote and create awareness for generation equality.
Distributing digital tools to women is not enough, because due to unpaid work that women are busy doing the digital tools distributed to them are ended up being used by other members of their families such as husband and their children, this is a good indicator that this transformation requires joint force to enable women to be part of this change.
By empowering women, there is a need for women to know their rights and for men to recognize those rights. There is the need to create networks of female tech leaders who are willing to mentor and motivate young women interested in the tech sector.
For us to achieve generation equality, we need men as stakeholders. They have to be invited to the conversations and be involved in designing the solutions.
Cultural norms should be challenged to accommodate the generation of women that we want to rise and raise the bar higher.
Equal pay, as a key point of gender equality advocacy, should be a call to action to empower women in technology with negotiation skills.
Government and civil society must come up with solutions that bridge the gap between women who graduate from high school STEM and those who graduate university with STEM degrees.
Women should be educated and motivated to go for Science and technology courses with the mindset of acquiring knowledge that will enable them to create innovations that work for their fellow women and the community at large.
Women should be positioned to maximise the advances technology has to offer. The technology scope should not be confused with just social media presence.