BACKGROUND OF CRDA’S NATIONAL GENDER FORUM OF NGOS
Gender has become one of the development issues of concern at global,
regional and national levels since the mid 1980s. Gender based inequalities
counter development efforts at poverty reduction. It is a human rights
issue and as such a cross cutting issue in development encompassing social,
economic, political and organizational perspectives. Gender equality is a
national policy goal since the Ethiopian government has signed both the
Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) as well as
the UN Conference on Women Beijing Platform for Action (BPA) twelve areas
of Critical Concerns. In addition, the Ethiopian government has formed a
National Policy on Ethiopian women and an updated National Action Plan on
Gender Equality (NAP-GE). Additionally, it has formed comprehensive laws
protecting women in the Constitution (such as Article 35) as well as in the
Criminal Code of Conduct (the Penal Code).
CRDA is an umbrella organization with over 285 Non Governmental
Organization (NGOs) working in a wide variety of development interventions
such as gender, food security, secure livelihoods, water and sanitation,
children’s issues, HIV/AIDS, good governance, human rights, etc. In order
to create a conducive environment for member organizations to engage in
collective undertakings in the areas of research, networking and advocacy,
CRDA facilitated the creation of six NGO Forums, including the Gender
Forum.
The Gender Forum was established in 2003 with the long term objective of
transforming the Forum into a national network with broader opportunities
for joining similar networks in Africa and at a global level.
GOAL
To create gender awareness and understanding and ensure
the practical application in all walks of life and development activities
among the Gender Forum members and other stakeholders.
OBJECTIVES
To build the capacity of member organizations on gender
issues and facilitate the engagement of an innovative and progressive
approach among the different actors to bring gender equality.
Policy Analysis and advocacy on issues that promote the distribution of
resources, opportunities and benefits among different groups of men and
women in the country
Networking to strengthen partnership and alliance among NGOs,
government, civil societies and like-minded networks to facilitate sharing
of best practices, act as a pressure group to move the gender equality
process forward at the national level; and
To raise funds for the implementation of the Gender Forum activities
and mobilize resources where a collective role is required.
STRATEGIES
Research
Networking
Advocacy and Policy
Capacity Building
Fund Raising
The Gender Forum is comprised on approximately 70 NGO members. Requirement
for membership is an interest in gender issues and a certificate from the
Ministry of Justice. A form which can be picked up at the Membership
Networking Development Department (MeNDD) needs to be filled out and
submitted to CRDA. Their role is to approve official documents, etc. as the
supreme decision making body and they meet quarterly to biannually. The
Steering Committee is comprised of seven member NGOs who carry out the
daily work of the Gender Forum, meeting monthly or twice a month depending
on the need. The Steering Committee comprise of volunteer NGOs who are then
voted on by the Gender Forum. The 2007 Steering Committee comprises of:
