THEME INFO PACKS: WOMEN AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

WEBSITES

---

Siyanda
www.siyanda.org

Named after a Zulu word meaning "we are growing", this is an online database of gender and development materials from around the world. These materials include reports and documents (many of them submitted or suggested by visitors), and also a large database of experts and consultants. This site is meant to serve as an interactive space, where visitors can share ideas, experiences and resources. Siyanda is hosted by BRIDGE, the gender and development research and information service of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).

 

Institute for Food and Development Policy
www.foodfirst.org

One of the major objectives of the Institute for Food and Development Policy (or "Food First") is to shape how people think, by analysing the root causes of global hunger, poverty, and ecological degradation and developing solutions in partnership with movements working for social change. Its work "both informs and amplifies the voices of social movements fighting for food sovereignty". This is all organised according to three programmes (building local agri-food systems; farmers forging food sovereignty; and democratising development: land, resources and markets), which are carried out in different countries. The Food First website includes a wealth of information about food issues, with blog postings, press releases, policy briefs, fact sheets, and also what they call "backgrounders". It also has a section inviting visitors to "get involved".

 

International NGO/CSO Planning Committee
www.foodsovereignty.org

The International NGO/CSO Planning Committee (or IPC) is a global network of organisations concerned with food sovereignty issues and programmes. It includes social organisations representing small farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, agricultural workers' trade unions, as well as important lobbying and advocacy networks. The IPC aims to serve as a facilitation mechanism for diffusion of information on, and capacity building for, food sovereignty and food security issues. Their site includes many documents which are grouped according to region or constituency (sadly, not updated), together with information on its working groups and its "focal points". At the moment it also includes an invitation to participate in the People's Food Sovereignty Forum, which is going to take place in Rome in November 2009.

 

Slow Food International
www.slowfood.org

Founded in 1989, this organisation grew from the desire to "counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions" and that fact that people are now less interested in where their food comes from, how it tastes, and to raise awareness on how food choices affect the rest of the world. It now counts 100 000 members in 132 countries. Slow Food has also created a network of "food communities" including consumers, educational institutions, cooks, researchers, etc. in order to support small producers. Called Terra Madre, this project sets out to give voice and visibility to rural food producers around the world, and to show the value of their work. Terra Madre also has its own website (see www.terramadre.info). A jointly produced newsletter in eight languages is digitally accessible from either site.

 

ActionAid HungerFREE
www.hungerfreeplanet.org

This is the site of the five-year campaign launched by ActionAid, by which they are trying to get all governments to honour their promise to halve global hunger by 2015. This campaign wants governments to introduce and implement specific laws - in particular laws that guarantee that women have the right to own land. Its website includes detailed "updates" on issues such as biofuels, rising food prices or climate change. It also has up-to-date press releases (with detailed recommendations) and, together with a series of stories from the field, it has a beautiful photo exhibition where women "speak out".

 

WOCAN, Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management
www.wocan.org

Set up in 2004, WOCAN is a network of people which aims to contribute to processes of organisational change for gender equality and environmentally sustainable development. Working with partners in countries such as Nepal, Zambia and Nigeria, WOCAN supports women through confidence-building, leadership and communication training. Among its major activities, it organises detailed courses, such as "gender-sensitive participatory research for plant breeding".

 

The Gender and Water Alliance
www.genderandwater.org

Established during the second World Water Forum (WWF) in March 2000, this is a global network set up to promote equitable access to and management of safe and adequate water. Its programme and activities include recording and sharing of knowledge and information on gender mainstreaming policies, and reinforcing the profile of gender equity issues at international water- related conferences. Their website includes many documents and resources, all of them grouped according to the different "water sectors": agriculture and food, drinking water, environment, sanitation, and integrated water resource management.

 

AWID, Association for Women's Right in Development
www.awid.org

AWID is an international membership organisation committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights. Its main objectives include helping build alliances and influencing international institutions and actors. Its site provides access to a large database, with documents on poverty, peace-building, human rights, HIV/AIDS, and much more. Although not much attention is given to agricultural production, it is possible to find information on environmental issues and the right to land (in case studies, guides, etc.).

 

Work of Women, WOW!
www.workofwomen.org

Set up by World Neighbors, this programme aims to build on what women do (care for families, impart wisdom, or produce most of the world's food) and change the situation in which they are found (work two-thirds of the world's working hours but earn just one-tenth of the world's income; suffer disproportionately from violence; are marginalised from leadership and decision making). This programme's activities include building awareness of problems, advocating for policy and action, and supporting specific work financially. Its site has information about upcoming events, books and films; readers are invited to subscribe to their monthly electronic publication.

More information? Please write to the editors, at ILEIA.

Add a comment

No user contributed comments