Gender in Africa Information Network (GAIN)

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Gender in Africa Information Network (GAIN)
African Gender Institute, UCT
Private Bag Rondebosch
7701
South Africa

Tel: 27 21 650 2970
Fax: 2721 685 2142

E-mail: jradloff@agi.uct.ac.za
Website: http://www.womensnet.org.za/links/gainbroch.htm

Contact: Ms. Jennifer Radloff, e-mail: jradloff@humanities.uct.ac.za

Description

The Gender in Africa Information Network (GAIN) is a women’s’ network that facilitates communication, discussion and information sharing between organizations and people interested in gender and women's issues in Africa. As a network, GAIN is committed to making information on women visible and globally accessible and to participate in the global information society in order to promote gender justice and women's rights in Africa.

GAIN has a network of participants with no formal membership. However, people are welcome to join the GAIN listerv as 'members' and complete a standard application form for the secretariat to have a database of participants. The network encourages the participation of documentalists, activists, researchers, journalists, and others with an interest and commitment to gender related issues in Africa and the dissemination of information. At present participation is limited to those working and living in Africa.

GAIN seeks to:

• link people across Africa working in the field of gender information
• act as a platform to share news, information and issues
• facilitate the training of members in the use of new technologies
• assist organizations in the disseminating publications
• facilitate resource sharing and partnerships

GAIN first emerged in March 1997 at a workshop organized by the African Gender Institute (AGI), University of Cape Town, South Africa, for librarians and archivists working with gender related material in Africa. The network, coordinated by Jennifer Radloff, is a major promoter of using ICTs to empower women through the dissemination of information on gender and development. At its core is the Information and Communication Working Group.

Track Record

Since GAIN was formed, a listserv (gain@lists.sn.apc.org) has been set up to act as one way of keeping members in touch, discussing issues of mutual concern, sharing news and information related to gender in Africa. The listserv, hosted by the Southern African Nongovernmental Organization Network (SANGONeT) and facilitated by the Working Group. is extremely active, informative, and stimulating,. Its membership continues to expand and diversify, and GAIN welcomes participation by people based in Africa who are interested in sharing information on gender in Africa.

In December 1997, five GAIN members from Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe and South Africa participated in an Information Strategy Team workshop to develop a website for Women’sNet. Participants were trained in the use of HTML and basic web site design and assisted in setting up the initial Women'sNet web site. They continue to contribute to the Information Strategy Team. Women'sNet is a project of SANGONeT in partnership with the Commission on Gender Equality.

The Women’sNet “gateway” to South African gender-related information includes locally-generated content and links to other relevant sites. The APC Women’s Networking Support Program, which has an Africa section, aims to increase women’s access to training and facilitate information flow between the North, South, East and West on gender issues.

In April 1998, the Women and Human Rights Documentation Centre based at the Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, hosted a GAIN ICT Technical Group Workshop. Nine GAIN members were brought together to assess the work of the technical group, examine the efficiency of the group's communication over the past year, examine other initiatives in the field of women/gender and ICT in Africa and to set new tasks and deadlines.

In August 1998, an e-mail facilitation skills workshop was co-hosted by GAIN and Women'sNet to coincide with the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. The GAIN Working Group was trained in technical and facilitation skills in order to share the responsibility of the GAIN Listserv and to empower participants to establish and manage e-mail discussion groups. The workshop also provided an opportunity for Working Group members to discuss GAIN as a whole and to visit the Book Fair.