Digital Pulse - Ch 3 - Sec 3 - Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)

Development Issues: Women's Health, Organisational Networking

Programme Summary

Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a non-governmental organisation initiated in May 2000 by several women's organisations in Uganda to develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively. In line with this, WOUGNET maintains a mailing list and website, which are hosted by Kabissa - A Space for Change in Africa. WOUGNET's mission is to promote and support the use of ICTs by women and women organisations in Uganda, so that they can take advantage of the opportunities presented by ICTs in order to effectively address national and local problems of sustainable development. The new ICTs, in particular, email and the Internet facilitate communication with each other and the international community.

While their emphasis is directed towards Internet technologies, they are also interested in how these technologies can be integrated with traditional means of information exchange and dissemination including radio, video, television and print media. Their definition of ICTs includes these other media. The goal is to improve conditions of life for women by enhancing their capacities and opportunities for exchange, collaboration and information sharing.

The launch of WOUGNET in May 2000 resulted from consultation with women organisations including Isis Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE), Uganda Women's Network (UWONET), Women Connect! - Uganda and Women Engineers, Technicians and Scientists in Uganda (WETSU), it was agreed that there was need for the following:

• A list that would facilitate exchange of ideas and information between subscribers;
• A companion website that would profile women organisations and use the web to provide additional exposure to their activities;
• Information and support on how to maximize the potential of ICTs within women organisations.

Summary of ICT Initiatives

Membership in WOUGNET is by participation in the WOUGNET online space. Membership is open to anyone interested in promoting or supporting the use of ICTs for sustainable development with an emphasis on activities directly related to Ugandan women. There is no fee for WOUGNET membership, which is available at three levels:

• Individual: This level is for individuals. To join, one needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list.
• Organisation: This level is for women organisations based in Uganda. To join, an organisation needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list or to subscribe to the monthly WOUGNET Update Newsletter. In addition, organisations need to provide a profile on the WOUGNET website. The profile can be submitted online or by requesting an Organisation Entry Form.
• Affiliate: This level is for organisations that are not women organisations based in Uganda but are interested in the use of ICTs for sustainable development in Uganda and worldwide. To join, an organisation needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list. Organisations will also have links created to their websites (if available).

WOUGNET has also developed a Web Design Programme to facilitate entrance of other women's NGOs onto the Internet. Websites can be a beneficial tool for making contacts, forging partnerships, fundraising, and marketing services and crafts. The Web Design program is a partnership of WOUGNET and InterConnection to donate websites to WOUGNET members that meet InterConnection's criteria for website donation. InterConnection's mission is to provide Internet and computer technology and training to underserved communities in developing countries.

The basic criteria for participation in this program are:

1. Organisation is a WOUGNET member. Has a profile on the WOUGNET website and is subscribed to either the WOUGNET or WOUGNET Update Newsletter mailing lists.
2. Organisation's mission includes some of the following components: provides economic or social benefits to the community, promotes natural resource preservation or human rights, non-profit organisation.

Organisations that meet the basic criteria then apply for both participation in the program and the opportunity for the website design to be donated by InterConnection. Donated websites are created by an international network of virtual volunteers.

This program is WOUGNET's response to a common question for many NGOs: "What resources are available for non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations in developing countries that want to set up their own web site?" They also point to the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) which has produced Web Resources for NGOs and Nonprofits that presents some of the resources available discusses how one might approach setting up a website, issues to consider, and gives a few practical tips. The NSRC is a non-profit organization that has been involved for the past decade with the deployment and integration of appropriate networking technology in various projects throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Oceania.

WOUGNET is also piloting the use of WorldSpace satellite radio equipment among its members. The WOUGNET WorldSpace Satellite Radio Program (WSRP) was initiated in August 2002 with the ALFA Women's Groups. WorldSpace satellite radio broadcasting has been developed by the WorldSpace Foundation, based in the USA. The Foundation's mission is to help improve the lives of disadvantaged persons in developing regions of the world by providing access to education and other information broadcast directly to radios from satellites. The WorldSpace radios when connected to a computer help users to access web based information without having to use the usual method of accessing information from the Internet (e.g., dialup, wireless or cable connections). The WSRP involves a loan of the WorldSpace satellite radio equipment to WOUGNET members for periods of up to 3 months each.

Partners: WorldSpace, InterConnection, The Global Fund for Women, Kabissa, Uganda Women's Network (UWONET),

Source:WOUGNET website

For More Information Contact:

Plot 59 Nkrumah Road, Room 13

+256 (0)41 234924

P.O. Box 4411, Kampala, Uganda

info@wougnet.org