NGOs and ICTs : UNFT’s experience

By Ms Rim BelhajUNFT Executive Board Member

Hammamet :May 26th, 2010

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National Union of Tunisian Women (UNFT) Created on January 1956. It focuses since, on Tunisian women’s promotion,

under all issues : Legislative, social, educational, cultural, intellectual economic.

The organization currently counts 180.000 members set out of 28 Tunisians regional delegations and more than 20 sections in other countries. 2

Gender & ICT’s

The concept of Gender equality is

a common concern all over the world. ICT gives more hopes especially

that ICT have a potential to : bring development for a group, country, eliminate poverty empower weaker segment

The pre-condition is a political will and a country national ICT Strategy : Hopefully we belong to a country where both are available.

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UNFT & ICTs

Objectives Address Gender Equity into access to and use of ICT in both

urban and rural areas, Raise awareness among women from different social level on

the role of ICT for local development and empowerment, Empower women through ICT-related capacity building to be

fully involved in income generation and wealth creation, Encourage women to master technology in order to develop

innovative skills and contribute to economic and social development.

Encourage women to switch from passive users to active knowledge and technology developers

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Prior to WSIS

Field Actions  :  Organized regional conferences related to women

and ICTs Offered ICT training sessions

International conferences

«Women in the Information society : The Process»,

August 9-10, 2005;

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WSIS

Parallel event during WSIS Nov 2005 :

« Networking, Gender and Virtual : Successful Strategies, Opportunities and Challenges»

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Post WSIS

Events continued such as a workshop on :

«Family and Information Technologies : to strenghen socio-economic development »,

Target population : 200 students from poor areas. Trained of the Internet use Visited different areas of The Science City

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Reaching out locals : IT trainings during illiteracy Classes

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Launching IT Clubs in Rural areas.

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Launching IT Clubs in Rural areas.

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Experiencing Computers in UNFT’s kindergartens

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FUTUR PROJECTSUNFT’s

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Partnership project with Microsoft Cyber Security :

Awareness Campaigns for parents and student

Training of trainers program related to e-security

Digital literacy Introducing new IT based curriculum in

UNFT’s training centers Training of trainers program

Pre-certification programs 14

UNFT Support to Nascent Women Entrepreneurs:

Micro loans

Training of Coaches’ Trainers

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UNFT & entrepreneurship

First step started on late 2005 : Micro loans (µcredits)

Target: Jobless young people with or without university degree

4 governorates : Beneficiaries (15% handicapped people, 25% having the level of the primary studies, 15% university level, fields covers: 6% agriculture, 20% craft industry, 31% trade, 43% service sector). 98% recoveryUNFT uses its own volunteers from professional alliances to procure the legal and management support.

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Second Step : Training for coaching Potential and Nascent Women Entrepreneurs

Objective Promote and develop the women’s entrepreneurship

presence within the country

Content Train a group of “resource women” Prerequisite: experience & skills in firm’s creation Basic knowledge to become a coach: use of distance

training Action-training: workshops, hands on experience

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Thank You for your attention & Time

www.unft.org.tn

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