Programme Update

The new millennium opened with increasing political upheavals in our region as citizens challenge the systems that are not working for people-centred development. The impact of globalisation and trade liberalisation on the economies of the region has been disastrous, leading to increased poverty and displacement of people. In this context, CAFRA has continued to identify and address the issues affecting women. The organisation has successfully negotiated financial and other resources to sustain its work.

FUNDING

An analysis of CAFRA projects from 1985-2000 was completed in an attempt to determine CAFRA’s comparative advantage. Unsurprisingly, research, training and advocacy emerged as the areas in which CAFRA has made a significant contribution.

Eight proposals for programme and institutional support have been fielded to Heinreich Boll Foundation (HBF), HIVOS, OXFAM, CIDA Gender Equity, UNIFEM and the European Union.

The following projects were implemented, several of which are ongoing:

1. Country surveys on sexual and reproductive health - Youth at Risk

2. Skills bank directory of women and women’s organisations, including CAFRA membership

3. Capacity-building training manual and workshops for CAFRA membership

4. Membership expansion - translation of annual report, CAFRA web page, CAFRA brochure and capacity-building package into French, Spanish and Dutch

5. Training seminars in self-financing at community level

6. Seed money for income-generating projects

7. Regional workshop in Adult Education methodology

8. Regional advocacy workshop

9. Research on migration and youth at risk

10. Gender and Economic Literacy workshops and training course

11. Women’s leadership training manual

12. Board member training manual

13. Anthology on CAFRA’s first 15 years

14. Anthology of stories from Caribbean lesbians

15. The situation of the disabled within families

16. Domestic Violence Intervention/Prevention Training Programme for Police Officers and Social Workers.

PROJECTS
CAFRA ANTHOLOGY
This anthology of women’s experiences was compiled from submissions by membership. The anthology is edited by Sybil Seaforth. It contains a foreword by Peggy Antrobus and articles from the English, Dutch, Spanish and French-speaking Caribbean. The anthology will be published and launched in the first half of 2002.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION/PREVENTION PROJECT
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funding was used for the training of police under the Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Training Project. Training was conducted in 17 Caribbean countries. The manual has been translated into Spanish and additional funds were accessed to conduct training in Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Curacao and the US Virgin Islands which are not included in the CDB funding package.

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)
CAFRA was formally installed as the focal point for dissemination of information on the ICC following a regional meeting in Jamaica last May. This advocacy role will support CAFRA’s ongoing human rights activities.

BEIJING FOLLOW-UP
Within the framework of the Platform for Action which emerged out of the 1995 Beijing Conference for Women, CAFRA continues to address the critical areas of concern. The question of the increasing burden of poverty on women has provoked CAFRA’s involvement in matters around gender and trade, and health (particularly cancer and HIV/AIDS). CAFRA collaborates with other organisations on advocacy on the impact of trade liberalisation on women.

The critical question of women’s leadership continues to be broached. This issue of CAFRA News, which examines the challenges to feminism in the 21st century, builds on the women’s leadership workshop held in December 1998 and the ongoing UNIFEM Transformational Leadership Project.

SKILLS BANK DIRECTORY
The current edition of the Skills Bank Directory of Women and Women’s Organisations has been enhanced by the bio-data received from members.

DOCUMENTATION CENTRE
The computerized system has been installed and the relevant data is being entered. The scope of the Centre will be expanded during this year.

CAPACITY BUILDING OF CAFRA NATIONAL GROUPS
The following activities, funded by OXFAM, will strengthen CAFRA’s position in the respective member countries:

 Training Seminars at community level in self-financing/sustainability

 Seed money for income-generating projects

 Regional workshop in Adult Education Methodology

 Regional Advocacy Workshop

 Research on Migration and Youth at Risk

 Gender and Economic Literacy Workshops and Training Course

In addition, the OXFAM/DFID Project provided resources for:

 Technically and Organisationally-Competent Partner organisations

 More Responsive, Accountable, Inclusive and Representative Partner Organisations

 board Member Training (Manual Development)
 Enhanced delivery by partner organisations of advocay work following from programme work.

DISABILITY
A regional project on the situation of the disabled within families has been proposed for Trinidad and Tobago only. This project was sent to BPTT Leader Awards (Trinidad and Tobago) which has issued a call for projects in this area.