Brief Description / Overview
Project Holders
Project Status
Participating Organizations
Strategies and Activities
Building an AWORC website
Capacity Building of Women in the Region
Providing On-site Reporting and Training for the BPFA Review Activities
Five-year Review on the Status of Women in new Information and Communication Technology in the Region
Project Evaluation and Documentation
Revised Timeline
Year 1
Year 2
Budget of Funds Requested from UNIFEM
Project title:
Asian Women's Resource Exchange (AWORC):
A Strategy for Electronic Resource Sharing and Networking for Women's Organizations in Asia
Project holders:
Isis International-Manila
Susanna George
Executive Director
Asian-Pacific Research and Resource Centre for Women
Rashidah Abdullah
Executive Director
Project coordinator:
Chat Garcia Ramilo
Isis International-Manila
Project duration: January 1999 -December 2000
Start date: January 1999
End date: December 2000
Location: Asia Pacific region primarily Manila, Korea, Japan, Bangkok and the Philippines; New York (Site of CSW Meetings)
Total Project Budget: US$ 289,000.00
Amount requested from UNIFEM: US$ 60,000.00
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AWORC is an Internet-based women's information service and network in Asia. It is an initiative geared towards developing cooperative approaches and partnerships in increasing access and exploring applications of new information and communication technologies (ICT) for women's empowerment. This network aims to help expand existing regional networks in the women's movement, promote electronic resource sharing and build a regional information service that will support various women's advocacies specifically those that are very critical for the women in our region. These include lobbying and awareness raising campaigns towards poverty alleviation, promotion of women's human rights and over-all women's empowerment as articulated in the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).
This two-year project seeks to provide avenues for women to develop skills in using new information and communication technologies to enhance their areas of work and to use Internet facilities to provide greater access to information, analyses and resources to various sectors of women for solidarity building, strengthening gender analyses, and developing partnerships with other key actors. During the span of this project, most activities of the project will center around the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) Review exercise and the processes leading up to it. Besides strengthening the capacities of women's organizations and networks in this region to participate more actively in the review process, it will also encourage synchronized lobbying of the national machinery by national women's groups, and "onsite" information dissemination the highlights of the Review.
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Isis International-Manila
Established in Rome, Italy in 1974, and now based in Manila, Philippines since 1991, Isis International-Manila strengthens south-south and south-north linkages to enhance the capacity of the global women's movement to address old and new issues amidst a rapidly changing and complex environment. Isis International-Manila has vast experience in moving information globally, to women and groups advancing women's rights, analyses and leadership, with special attention to Asia and the Pacific. It is an organization with a 25-year history of involvement in developing empowering information and communication models and networks for women. In the last five years, Isis International-Manila has further strengthened its capacity to provide access, training and mechanisms for women's participation in information and communication technologies through a concerted effort to engage with new information technologies.
Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
ARROW was established in January 1993 as a regional non-governmental, non-profit women's organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ARROW's current program focus is on women and health, in particular reproductive health. As a resource and research organization, ARROW provides practical information and resource materials to strengthen initiatives to re-orient health, population and reproductive health policies and programs with women's perspectives and gender analysis. It works with local, national and global women's organizations and networks to improve the capacity of women NGOs in Asia and the Pacific to influence health, population and family planning organisations at national, regional and international levels. ARROW has established a computerised Documentation Centre with a specialised collection on women and health, in particular reproductive health, which has promoted information services and other outputs. In the area of research, ARROW has been a member of AWORC since it was formed in April, 1998.
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AWORC resulted from a workshop organized by Isis International-Manila on 20-23 April 1998 to explore strategies for electronic resource sharing and networking among women's information and resource centers in the region. It is part of our continued effort to develop empowering information and communication models that strengthen the women's movement in our region.
Soon after the April workshop, AWORC built its web site and uploaded it in July, 1998. Information in the web site includes a profile of participating organizations, a pilot multi-lingual search mechanism for its database and a Beijing + 5 section. This section highlights regional activities for the five-year review of the Beijing Platform.
AWORC expanded its outreach throughout 1998 through its involvement in the following forums and conferences such as the Know How Conference on the World of Women's Information in Amsterdam (August 22-26, 1998), the East Asian Women's Forum in Mongolia (August, 1998) And an international symposium and regional consultation on women's status and communications technologies in Seoul in November, 1998. Presently, nine organizations from five countries, a women's regional network (Asian Caucus) and an international women's electronic network (APC-WNSP) are now involved with AWORC. Isis International-Manila is serving as AWORC coordinator. Participating organizations are electronically linked through an electronic mailing list which also serves as a venue for coordination of plans and activities.
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As of November 1998, AWORC has 11 member organizations from six countries:
Two organizations provide training and networking support for the project. These are JCA-NET, an online-communications organization and the Association for Progressive Communication Women's Networking Support Program (APC-WNSP).
APWINC, a center that promotes ICT for women in Asia Pacific based at the Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul will provide the training facilities for the program. The Sookmyung Women's University currently holds the UNESCO Chair Project on communication technology for women.
The Asian Caucus is a network of women's organizations in Asia that coordinates regional participation to the UN commission on Status of Women meetings and has initiated preparations for the five-year Review of the implementation of BPFA within the region. During its meeting in November 1998, 18 organizations from seven countries expressed interest and support to participate in developing a section on the AWORC web site that will serve as a clearinghouse of information for the five-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform.
Isis International-Manila, Asia Pacific Women for Law and Development (APWLD) and SAATHI (a Nepalese women's organization focusing on research into gender issues and human rights of women in Nepal) serves as the coordinating committee for the Asian Caucus.
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AWORC has identified three main strategies in this project. Under each strategy, one or more activities are proposed. Isis and APWIN will be sharing the administration of the components of the project.
As an Internet based information service and network, one of AWORC's main strategies is to build a web site containing multi-lingual resources and databases highlighting contemporary and critical issues of women in the region. The information in the web site will be searchable through the continuous development a multi-lingual search mechanism.
AWORC will pay special attention to bringing offline information online and inter-linking online resources about women's issues and the women's movement in Asia. It will also serve as a communication channel among women's organizations in this region in support of their advocacies.
Funds requested will be allocated to ensure that a regional information network for the review of the implementation of the BPFA in the region is developed. This network is currently made up of AWORC members and trainees at the recently concluded WENT '99 training. Additional organizations will be brought into this network in the course of the regional review process. AWORC's regional information network is geared towards broadening participation of more women from the region in the overall review process. The components are:
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Capacity building is a key strategy towards increasing the participation of women's organizations in AWORC. Capacity building is geared towards training women in the overall use of ICT for information sharing and networking. To address the lack of reliable local technical support which is a common barrier identified by women's groups, follow-up support activities will be provided online (and through phone and fax) to trainees. . Technical expertise and support will be provided by JCA-NET, APC WNSP, APWINC and Isis International-Manila.
The training will be hosted by APWINC at the Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Korea, which has computer and Internet training facilities. Trainers will be provided by JCA-NET, Isis International-Manila, APWINC, APC-WNSP and by other AWORC organizations to be identified.
Funds requested will be allocated to support the participants of WENT '99.
This component will be administered by Isis.
Funds requested will be allocated to support the AWORC training team in developing and producing training resources.
This component will be administered by ARROW.
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AWORC will provide information services to networks from the region involved in the five year review of the BPFA during the CSW Preparatory meeting in March, 2000 and the Women 2000 NGO Working Session and the UN General Assembly Special Session.
During these meetings, AWORC will work closely with the Asian Caucus and provide on-site reporting of its activities and positions through its web site to inform women who will not be present at the CSW meetings. The web site will also develop a feedback mechanism that will enable women to virtually participate in the discussions. During these activities, AWORC will also provide online reporting of Asian Caucus and Conference activities for the web site.
Participation in the Women 2000 NGO Working Session and the UN General Assembly Special Session. AWORC will send two representatives to provide on-site reporting and training during the meetings.
Funds requested will be for travel, board and accommodations for two AWORC representatives to attend the NGO Working Session and the General Assembly Special Session. Additional funds will be allocated for communication and materials.
This component will be administered by Isis.
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The research component of this project will focus on a five year review on the status of women and information technology in Asia towards producing a report and policy recommendations to the UN Beijing Plus Five Review Conference scheduled in June, 2000.
The five year review of women and ICT in the region will be conducted in three steps. The first step is organizing a regional consultation to discuss the framework and plan for the review. This will be followed by a research on the status of women's access and participation in the region and gender related issues in the development of ICT in the region. The third step will be a regional online discussion to develop policy recommendations on women and ICT for the review process. The online discussion will start in September and will be conducted throughout the review process. A report will be produced that will include the findings of the research and the recommendations that will come out of the online discussion.All activities under this strategy will be administered by Isis.
Funds will be allocated for travel, board and accommodations of a team workshop facilitators and resource persons to the NGO regional symposium. A small amount will also be used for equipment, materials and communications costs for the workshop.
The findings of this review will help identify the information and communication needs and gaps of women in the region which will be valuable in AWORC's policy advocacy and in the determining the network's developmental direction.
Participants of the workshop will be encouraged to join a regional online discussion to develop policy recommendations on women and ICT for the High Level UN ESCAP Meeting in October, the CSW WOMEN 2000 Preparatory meeting and the WOMEN 2000 Special Session of the UN General Assembly in June, 2000 will also be discussed during this workshop.
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Monitoring and evaluation of the project will be done in a number of ways. These include organizing a regional evaluation meeting, producing an evaluation report and an online feedback mechanism that will help evaluate usefulness of the information in the web site.
This component will be administered by Isis.
An evaluation meeting will be conducted during the third quarter of 2000. The dates for the meeting will be determined by AWORC by the end of 1999. The evaluation of the project will be directed at drawing lessons in strengthening electronic networking, advocacy and capacity building in the region. Part of the meeting will also be devoted to identifying follow-up actions and to ensure the sustainability in this area of work.
Funds will be allocated for travel of participants in this evaluation meeting. Funding for board, accommodations and other expenses has been requested from other donors.
An evaluation report will be written and made available in the web and in print. Funds requested will be allocated to the printing and distribution of this report.
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AWORC, as a project, began immediately after the workshop held in Manila in April 1998. During this period AWORC managed to develop and maintain a pilot web site, expand the number of participating organizations, promote AWORC at important international venues such as the Know How Conference on the World of Women's Information in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (August 22-26, 1998) and conduct an on-site electronic network training during the East Asian Women's Forum in Mongolia (August, 1998). AWORC also participated in an international symposium and regional consultation on women's status and communications technologies in Seoul, Korea in November, 1998. The network, through Isis International-Manila, also collaborated with the Asian Caucus to develop plans for the establishment of a an Internet-based information service for the five year review of the BPFA. This initial phase has laid the foundation for a two-year project from January 1999 - January 2001.
| Year 1 (January - December 1999) | Month |
| Organization of initial information on the BPFA review process for uploading in the AWORC web site | February |
| Hiring of project staff | March |
| Preparation of draft training module and training materials that will be used for the regional trainers training and as reference materials for the on-site training tool box |
March |
| Participation in the CSW meeting especially in discussions about the five year review of the BPFA; promotion of AWORC web site and providing information support services through online reporting of Caucus and CSW activities for the web site and providing hands on training for the Asian Caucus (New York) | March |
| Regional trainers training workshop and finalization of the training course and materials with core member organization (Isis International-Manila International, Manila) | April |
| Regular updating of the web site with information on activities and events; reports and analyses of NGOs, government bodies and international agencies; information about organizations and networks involved in the Beijing Review process. | May-December |
| 5 days training workshop with the participating organization on Internet usage and web site development for Beijing Review; identification of opportunities for on-site training and on-site reporting (Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea) | June |
| Development of training resources section on the website as follow-up support for trainees | July - December |
| Regional consultation on five year review of the state of women and ICT; Yearly project evaluation and forward planning (including training opportunities and requests of women's networks) by coordinating committee (Seoul); On-site training and on-site reporting by AWORC team | August 31 - November 3 |
| Preparation of radio scripts and creation of a radio news digest section on AWORC website | August - September |
| Redesigning of the AWORC website to incorporate a distributed publishing environment | July - September |
| Starting of online discussion group for five year review of women and ICT | September |
| Conducting research on five-year review of women and ICT | August - December |
| Compiling and producing a regional report and policy recommendations on women and ICT for the UN ESCAP High Level Meeting on Women 2000; on-site reporting & on-site training during the high level meeting | October 26 - 29 |
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| Year 2 (January - December 2000) | Month |
| Regular updating of the web site with information on activities and events; reports and analyses of NGOs, government bodies and international agencies; information about organizations and networks involved in the Beijing Review process; updating of training resources and radio news digest section | January - December |
| Participation in the CSW; providing information support services through online reporting of Caucus and CSW activities for the web site and providing hands on training for the Asian Caucus; presentation of the report on women and ICT during Asian Caucus meetings for feedback and more input; participation in discussions for the UN Beijing Plus five Conference scheduled in June, 2000 (New York) | March |
| Revision of report on women and ICT and validation of AWORC participants, Asian Caucus and other participating organizations | April |
| Production, uploading and distribution of final report on women and ICT based on regional consultation, research and online discussion | May |
| Participation during the NGO Working Session; Women 2000 Special Session of the General Assembly; providing information support services through online reporting of Caucus and Conference activities for the website presentation of final report on women and ICT during the UN Beijing Plus Five Conference scheduled in June, 2000 (New York) | June |
| Uploading of UN Beijing Plus Five Conference and Asian Caucus reports and resolutions; information about follow-up activities and networks | July - September |
| Regional project evaluation meeting and production of evaluation report | Third quarter of 2000 |
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| ITEM | BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS | SUB-TOTAL |
| Website Development | US$4000 | |
| Developing an Information Network for the BPFA Review | Development of Internet News Digest for Radio Programs in the Asia and Pacific Region | US$4000 |
| Issue-based & Content-based Networking | US$5200 | |
| On-site Training, Reporting and Advocacy During the Women 2000 Conference | Airfare expenses at US$1250 x 2 participants | US$2500 |
| Accommodations for 2 participants at US$75 x 7 days | US$1050 | |
| Per Diem for 2 participants at US$75 x 7 days | US$1050 | |
| Communications costs for On-line Reporting at US$25 x 7 days | US$175 | |
| Supplies and Materials | US$ 425 | |
| Status of Women and ICT Five-Year Review | US$18,600 | |
| Regional Consultation Meeting | Airfare expenses at US$750 x 5 participants | US$3750 |
| Board and accommodations at US$70 x 5 participants x 5 days | US$1750 | |
| Equipment and materials | US$500 | |
| Communications costs | US$500 | |
| Sub-Total | US$6500 | |
| Five-Year Review Report | Research to be conducted by 10 focal points in the Asia and Pacific Region | US$5000 |
| Researcher and Writer of Report on Women in ICT at US$600 x 6 months | US$3600 | |
| Editing and Critical Review of Report | US$500 | |
| On-line Discussion Group Moderator | US$1000 | |
| Communications Costs | US$500 | |
| Resources and materials | US$500 | |
| Publication of 100 copies of the Report on Women in ICT | US$1000 | |
| Sub-Total | US$12,100 | |
| Capacity Building | US$4500 | |
| Support for participants to WENT '99: Women's Electronic Network Training | US$4500 | |
| Project Coordination and Administrative Support | US$9200 | |
| Salary of Project Staff at US$600 x 12 months | US$7200 | |
| Maintenance of Web Server | US$1000 | |
| Communications and other administrative costs | US$1000 | |
| Project Evaluation Meeting and Report | US$7500 | |
| Airfare expenses at US$700 X 10 participants | US$7000 | |
| Documentation and production of report | US$500 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED | US$49,000 |
| ITEM | BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS | SUB-TOTAL |
| Website Development | US$8000 | |
| Developing an Information Network for the BPFA Review | Communication Support | US$3000 |
| Translation Support | US$5000 | |
| Capacity Building | US$3000 | |
| Developing Training Resources | US$3000 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED | US$11,000 |
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| Items | Budgetary Requirements | Budgetary Requirements | ||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | |||
| Figures stated in US Dollars | Funds requested | Isis Counterpart | Funds requested | Isis Counterpart |
| 1. Website development | ||||
| a. Monthly updating of the web site with information on activities and events, reports and analyses for the Beijing Review process and general updating of website | ||||
| - communications support for participating organizations at $500 x 20 organizations | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||
| - translation support for participating organizations at $500 x 20 organizations | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||
| b. Technical assistance | ||||
| - web programmer at $500 per month x 12 months | 6,000.00 | 6,000.00 | ||
| - web master at $500 per month x 12 months | 6,000.00 | 6,000.00 | ||
| - software programs | 1,000.00 | |||
| Sub-total | 27,000.00 | 6,000.00 | 26,000.00 | 6,000.00 |
| 2. Capacity building | ||||
| a. Regional trainers training and AWORC coordinating committee meeting - Manila (7 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 10 participants at an average of $750 each | 7,500.00 | |||
| - food and accommodations at $75 x 10 x 7 | 5,250.00 | |||
| - venue rental and equipment use at $150 x 7 | 1,050.00 | |||
| - local travel and communications cost | 1,000.00 | |||
| - honoraria for trainers at $1,000/person x 2 | 2,000.00 | |||
| - training kits, supplies and other materials | 500.00 | |||
| b. Regional training workshop - Seoul (5 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 25 participants at an average of $750 each | 18,750.00 | |||
| - food and accommodations at $100 x 25 x 5 | 12,500.00 | |||
| - venue rental and equipment use at $500 x 5 | 2,500.00 | |||
| - local travel and communications cost | 1,500.00 | |||
| - honoraria for 4 trainers | 4,000.00 | |||
| - training kits, supplies and other materials | 1,250.00 | |||
| c. Production of on-site training tool box | ||||
| - writing and editing | 1,000.00 | |||
| - printing and distribution of 50 copies at $50 each | 2,500.00 | |||
| d. Training Workshop for Internet News Digest for Radio | ||||
| - airfare at $750 for 2 trainers x 2 workshops | 3,000.00 | |||
| - food and accommodation at $125 x 2 trainers x 2 workshops | 4,000.00 | |||
| - honorarium for 2 trainers | 2,000.00 | |||
| - training kits, supplies and materials at $50 x 60 kits | 3,000.00 | |||
| Sub-total | 57,750.00 | 3,550.00 | 12,000.00 | |
| 3. Issue-based & content -based networking | ||||
| a. CSW Meeting 1999 - New York (15 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 2 participants at $1,250 each | 2,500.00 | |||
| - accommodation for 2 participants at $75 x 15 days | 2,250.00 | |||
| - per diem for 2 participants at $75 x 15 days | 2,250.00 | |||
| - communications costs for online reporting at $25 x 15 days | 375.00 | |||
| - supplies and materials | 500.00 | |||
| b. CSW Meeting 2000 - New York (10 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 2 participants at $1,250 each | 2,500.00 | |||
| - accommodation for 2 participants at $75 x 10 | 1,500.00 | |||
| - per diem for 2 participants at $75 x 10 | 1,500.00 | |||
| - communications costs for online reporting at $25 x 10 days | 250.00 | |||
| - supplies and materials | 500.00 | |||
| c. Participation in UN Beijing Plus Five Conference - New York (7 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 2 participants at $1,250 each | 2,500.00 | |||
| - accommodations for 2 participants at $75 x 7 days | 1,050.00 | |||
| - per diem for two participants at $75 x 7 days | 1,050.00 | |||
| - communications costs for online reporting at $25 x 7 days | 175.00 | |||
| - supplies and materials | 500.00 | |||
| d. On-site training in conferences, meetings and other activities ( 2 training activities a year) | ||||
| - airfare, food and accommodation at $5,000 x 2 on- site training support activities | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||
| Sub-total | 17,875.00 | 21,525.00 | ||
| 4. Status of women and ICT five-year review | ||||
| a. Regional consultation - Seoul (5 days) | ||||
| - airfare for 20 participants at $ 750 each | 15,000.00 | |||
| - food and accommodations at $100 x 20 x 5 | 10,000.00 | |||
| - venue rental and equipment use at $500 x 5 | 2,500.00 | |||
| - local travel and communications cost | 1,500.00 | |||
| - Meeting kits, supplies and other materials | 1,250.00 | |||
| b. Five-year review report | ||||
| - writing and editing | 1,000.00 | |||
| - printing of 200 copies at $30 per copy | 6,000.00 | |||
| Sub-total | 27,750.00 | 2,500.00 | 7,000.00 | |
| 5. Project coordination and administrative support | ||||
| - Salary of project coordinator (750.00 x 12 months) | 9,000.00 | 9,000.00 | ||
| - Salary of project associate (600 x 12 months) | 7,200.00 | 7,200.00 | ||
| - Connectivity and communications cost | 3,500.00 | 3,500.00 | ||
| - Facilities, equipment use and office space at $400 per month x 24 months | 4,800.00 | 4,800.00 | ||
| - Purchase of one lap top computer for on-site reporting and communications | 3,500.00 | |||
| - Cost of web server computer | 4,300.00 | |||
| - Maintenance of web server | 2,000.00 | |||
| Sub-total | 12,700.00 | 21,600.00 | 7,200.00 | 17,300.00 |
| 6. Project evaluation | ||||
| a. Year 1 evaluation meeting - (November, Seoul) | ||||
| - food and accommodations at $100 x 10 participants x 2 days | 2,000.00 | |||
| - communications support | 500.00 | |||
| b. Year 2 evaluation meeting with training component (December, Manila) | ||||
| - airfare (10 participants) at $750 each | 7,500.00 | |||
| - food and accommodations at $75 x 10 x 5 days | 3,750.00 | |||
| - local travel and communications cost | 500.00 | |||
| - Supplies and other materials | 500.00 | |||
| c. Project evaluation report | 500.00 | |||
| Sub-total | 2,500.00 | 12,750.00 | ||
| Year total | $145,575.00 | $33,650.00 | $86,475.00 | $23,300.00 |
| Total project cost: | US$ 289,000.00 |
| Isis counterpart: | US$56,950.00 |
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| Donor Institution | Status of Application | Amount |
| Asia Pacific Regional Gender Programme, United Nations Development Programme | Application from Isis International-Manila. Recommended for approval by end July | USD 50,000.00 |
| Japan Foundation Asia Center | Application from JCA-NET approved | USD 22,040.00 |
| UNIFEM East and South East Asia Office | Application for WENT 99 approved | USD 6,000.00 |
| UNIFEM South Asia Office | Application for WENT 99 approved | USD 2,950.00 |
| Mama Cash | Application for WENT 99 approved | USD 2,500.00 |
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