FEMNET's programming conference and general assembly: The African feminist and gender agendas: what gains, what losses?

• Author: Mwangi, Judy

Over 80 participants representing organisations from 19 African countries attended FEMNET's third Programming Conference and General Assembly. The conference took place from August 6-8, 2003 at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Ms. Njoki Ndungu, nominated Member of Parliament National Rainbow Coalition Party (NARC) of Kenya, delivered the keynote address and said that the conference should aim to constructively examine what we have so Par gained and understand the shift from the women and development approach to the gender and development approach. She urged participants at the conference to evaluate the weakness of the latter approach, determine how it helps overcome challenges women Pace today, and assess whether it is time to pick another approach.

The conference included plenary debates and discussions on gains the women's movement has made so far, setbacks the movement has experienced in its struggle and on various issues affecting women, including: economic, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights; the rights to development and peace; and reproductive and sexual rights.

The general assembly took place on the last day of the conference. Participants discussed proposed amendments to FEMNET's Constitution. The Board of Directors and Trustees had proposed amendments with a view to facilitating regular meetings and fulfilling their role as overseers with respect to the Secretariat. The first amendment was a proposal made to include more young women as members of the network to ensure continuity and an inter-generational transfer of knowledge and skills with respect to gender and development in Africa.

It was also agreed that one of the six Trustees reside in Kenya, where the Secretariat of the network is situated end that the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees be elected from members of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Trustees and members of the Executive Board, are expected to uphold the network's mandate, carry out their functions by supplying institutional support and liaising with their sub-regional constituencies.

The General Assembly resulted in some constitutional amendments being passed. It concluded with the elections of a new FEMNET Executive Board end Board of Trustees. Mama Koite from Mali was elected as the new Chairperson of FEMNET's Executive Board, after she was nominated for the position unopposed. South African Natasha Primo was unanimously endorsed as the Secretary to the Executive Board, while...