Southern Africa faces the challenge of moving from an era of making commitments and promises to an era of implementation and delivery. Mindful of the importance of relevant information in this process, the gender programme of the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC), Women in Development Southern Africa Awareness (WIDSAA), wishes to partner with journalists and media organisations in the SADC region who are committed to ensuring that the region moves from promises to delivery on gender equality, justice and women's empowerment.

In the last decade, southern Africa has seen rapid shifts and unprecedented positive changes in gender equality and women's empowerment processes. But there are concerns that the gains made after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA) may not be sustainable. The region needs information that reveals the complex and interdependent nature of women's lives, and key gender issues, to facilitate the shift from promises to delivery.

The WIDSAA programme has embarked on various activities aimed at strengthening the monitoring of implementation of the various gender commitments. The media as one of the most powerful means of mass communication potentially has a key role to play in revealing progress toward promises and commitments. For this reason, SARDC WIDSAA, is offering a Small Grant Fund for Journalists in the SADC region on Gender Reporting.

Among the major gender challenges for southern Africa are issues related to women's involvement in decision-making; poverty; economic empowerment of women; women's health and the impact of HIV and AIDS; gender inequalities especially in the education for girls and women at tertiary and university levels; constitutional and legal rights; information, communication and the media; and strengthening of institutional mechanisms.

The Grant will be used to support selected journalists to research, write and publish/produce in-depth news features that will contribute to gender equality, justice and women's empowerment.

Main Criteria

1. Track record in reporting on gender issues
2. Minimum of four years experience as a Journalist
3. Citizen and resident of a SADC member state
4. Must be working for a media institution in the country of residence or corresponding for media organizations in SADC.

Applications are invited from interested Journalists who meet the above criteria. Female and male Journalists are encouraged to apply. All applications must be accompanied with brief CVs. Each applicant must also explain, in not more than 500 words: How you as a journalist can contribute towards enabling the SADC region move from promises to delivery on gender equality, justice and women's empowerment commitments.

Send your applications to:
The Head of Programme, WIDSAA,
Box 5690,
Harare,
Zimbabwe
Email: widsaa@sardc.net

Deadline for submitting applications is 15 March 2006.
Selection will be done by the end of March 2006 and selected candidates will be informed within the month of April 2006.

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