Research / Action Projets and Programmes

CAPACITY BUILDING

Since February 1999, CAFRA was part of a process with OXFAM and the British Development Division for a Capacity Building Project for Civil Society Organizations. As a result of this process, CAFRA received resources for the following activities to be completed over a 4-year period:


(a) Training in Governance, Social Marketing, and Advocacy, for replication among members.
(b) Production of a Manual for Board Members
(c) Translation of the Web site into English, French, Spanish and Dutch

This project has an Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from several regional NGO’s and CAFRA holds the Chair.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAMME

The Domestic Violence Intervention Training Project for Police and Social Workers was implemented. The project is to be implemented in three phases.

Phase I involved production of the Training Manual. This process combined material from the CAFRA/UNIFEM Manual produced as part of the Campaign Against Violence to Women and Girls, and the Manual used by Suriname in that country’s training programme. The new Manual was then tested in the training of twelve Trainers.

In Phase II, these twelve Trainers undertook the training of two hundred Police and Social Workers, from nineteen (19) Caribbean countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, Tortola, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Curacao.

The training was done in two batches of 100 each in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, during June and July respectively.

In Phase III of the Project, these new Trainers will be undertaking the training of approximately 26,000 Police and Social Workers in the respective countries.

This Phase is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank.

The Project is monitored by a Committee of Stakeholders, comprised of representatives from the Inter American Development Bank, Caribbbean Development Bank, Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), UNIFEM and CAFRA.

BEIJING +5

With the support of UNIFEM and OXFAM, CAFRA participated in the Beijing +5 process, and produced an NGO Alternative Report for submission to the United Nations Special Session.

Two regional consultations were held in April and May to sensitise Directors of Women’s Bureaus, and representatives of Women’s Organisations.

CAFRA facilitated a one day meeting in Antigua, with the Directors of Women’s Bureaus to critically examine the Draft Outcomes Document and prepare themselves for the negotiating process.

The consultation with Women’s Organisations was held in St. Kitts, and updated participants on what the implementation of the Platform for Action really meant for women.

Following the Beijing Special Session, CAFRA held a Regional Consultation in October to plan the way forward. There was need for continued public education on the twelve critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action, and in particular research on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Rights, and the impact of Migration.

Other recommendations for future action were:

 Lobbying Governments to move towards Poverty Eradication instead of Poverty Alleviation
 Exploring the Theorising on Male Marginalisation
 Research the factors inhibiting women’s political participation, and how can CAFRA meet this challenge
 Discussion on Abortion and Sexual Orientation
 Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS

ECONOMIC LITERACY

Since 1996, CAFRA has been involved in research and action around Trade Issues.

One important activity in the year under review was an Economic Literacy Workshop to better equip the CAFRA Staff, Board and general membership to better deliver information and training at national level. The main training tool was an Economic Literacy Manual which includes:
 A Facilitators Guide
 Four Modules on : 1. The Political Economy of the Caribbean 2. The Nuts and Bolts of the Economy 3. Economic Policy Issues 4. Trade Liberalisation and Globalisation

UNIFEM and the Caribbean Policy Development Centre have committed to collaboration with CAFRA in further training. The possibility of establishing a Training Course through the UWI School of Continuing Education is also being explored.