The work and impact of NEPADs Gender Programme came under the spotlight today, with a special Brown Bag lunch aimed at strengthening internal knowledge and awareness about NEPAD’s work. The session was organised to mark International Women’s Day, commemorated on March 8. 

The Brown Bag lunch is one among several that are planned by the Communications Unit to ensure a better understanding of the various NEPAD programmes and projects among staff.

Gender development is primarily driven by the Gender Spanish Fund for Women Empowerment. A Fund of 20 million Euro provided through the Spanish Government has been supporting women’s projects that focus on economic empowerment, and strengthening civil society and community-based organisations.

The Unit presented significant results that are making a real difference on the ground. Staff heard that since 2007, the NEPAD Spanish Fund has support 80 projects, with over 20,000 women and 2.000 men having benefited directly from the Fund.

Dr Rokhaya Ndiaye presenting francophone projects funded by the NEPAD Spanish Fund.

Areas of support have been in skills development, vocational training, awareness on gender based violence, HIV and AIDs, as well as Information technology.  In addition, 523 women and 85 men have also been trained in small business management.

 Mr Bankole Adeoye speaking on behalf  of the NEPAD CEO

Speaking on behalf of the CEO,  Mr Bankole Adeoye congratulated the Gender Unit for the difference it is making in changing the lives of women in Africa. He said that the empowerment of women was crucial to the overall development of the continent, because of the clustered nature of women’s role in societal and national development. He said that women were a key development vector in the 21^st Century.

A quiz was held to test how much was understood from the presentations. All female staff also received flowers, as a symbolic gesture from the Gender Unit.