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National Women in Agriculture Roundtable March 1 - 4, 2010 Madang PNG
‘Recognising Women’s Agricultural Innovations Through Dialogue’.
Hon Bob McMullan, Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Aid has agreed to chair this inaugural roundtable taking place in Madang in the first week of March 2010.
The roundtable is an initiative of the Papua New Guinea Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNGWIADF) to gain recognition of its role as the voice of women in agriculture who contribute to food security through the implementation of PNGWiADF's Strategic Plan. As the initiator, PNGWiADF will be organising the event in joint collaboration and partnerships with key stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
In staging a round table forum, PNGWiADF is bringing women's voices to the attention of stakeholders, line agencies and donor partners to recognise its Strategic Plan as a plan for all rural women who depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The Strategic Plan was drafted by the members representing various registered groups and it echoes and complements other plans such as NARI's Strategic Plan 2006-2015, the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), the Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010 (MTDS) and The Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The meeting is also an opportune time for women in agriculture to contribute to the 40 Year National Strategy and the National Women's Policy. PNGWiADF hopes the forum will build trust in the organisation that will ensure collaborations and partnerships that will impact a multitude of people. These collaborations and partnerships will in turn be a positive step for the organisation as it is recognised widely as having a reputable network that is effective and efficient, is strong, transparent and accountable.
The immediate outcome PNGWIADF hopes to achieve from the round table forum is interim agreements of understanding with partners to fund components of the PNGWiADF Strategic Plan
Rationale
The timing is right and relevant for PNGWiADF as a collective voice of women in the agricultural sector to have their shouts and whispers heard. The sector is lagging behind and is struggling to get the recognition it deserves as having the potential to assure food security, generate cash incomes for rural inhabitants, increase gainful employment, reduce poverty because the food crop sector is not recognised as contributing to rural development. It is in the food crop sector that women are primarily involved. For the rural economy to grow and flourish, women need to be the driving force.
The Objectives of the Roundtable are:
- Recognition that this is the Forum for Women in Agriculture
- Take women's voices to the next stage
- Gain agreement from partners to support the PNGWiADF Strategic Plan
- Input into the National Women's Plan
- Risk sharing and poverty reduction
The expected Outcomes of project are:
1. Implement the Strategic Plan as listed below (refer to Attachment 2):
2. Contribute to National Policy for Women, MTDS, 40 Year National Strategic Plan
3. Have an MOU between partners and PNGWiADF (is this necessary ?)
4. Harmonisation of donors, line agencies and private sector
5. PNGWiADF members exchange and share views
The expected Outputs are:
1 Report highlighting where PNGWiADF was, what was done and its plans for the future
2 Announcement and practical demonstration by the Minister for Agriculture or Minister for Community Development
3 Knowledge of extension - feedback from participants on what good extension is and recommend effective extension
4 Field Day of Knowledge and practical items for women to take home
5 Networking between all collaborating partners
6 Acknowledge and celebrate contributions of PNGWiADF to PNG economy development and well being of its people
7 Enhance friendship, networks between PNG and Australian women
Who will be involved?
- Government Agencies
- Private Sector
- Mining Industry
- Women in Agriculture
- Civil Society
- Government Leaders of both Australia and PNG
- Donor Agencies
PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNGWiAgDF)
Aim of PNG WiAgDF
"A voice of women in agriculture to be recognised as equal partners which encourages innovation by women for agriculture, social, economic and overall development of PNG’
PNGWIADF Strategic Plan - Draft No 2, November 2009
Purpose: to be an effective and efficient voice of women in agriculture to be recognised as equal partners and provide a platform that encourages innovation by women for agricultural development through:
- Building a strong, transparent and accountable organisation;
- Raising awareness of PNGWIADF and opportunities for enrolment among women in agriculture;
- Building the capacity of its secretariat and its member groups through the provision of targeted training;
- Ensuring sustainability and building of strategic partnerships for agricultural development.
1. Organisational structure
To ensure PNGWiAgDF is a strong, transparent and accountable organisation
Tasks
- To identify fixed and variable costs
- Source office equipment and space
- To effectively and efficiently manage the data base of registered members
- Monitor, evaluate and report on this plan
Activities
- Collect quotes for office and administration equipment - telephone installation, transport, electricity, internal phone and fax, photocopying, computer, email system, and office space or land
Secretary July 2009
- Prepare a budget for 12 months
Treasurer & executive August 2009
- Source funding to meet the budget
Ongoing, Treasurer & Executive
- Maintain data base and follow up with registered members to get their details
Ongoing Secretary
- Prepare, publish and distribute an annual report
October 2009 Secretary
2. Awareness
Purpose: To raise awareness of PNGWiAgDF and opportunities for involvement among women in agriculture and stakeholders for agricultural research and development
Tasks
Contact councillors, women leaders, church representatives, village leaders and talk about PNGWiAgDF
End of June
All Registered members - Team leaders Salome & Bertha
- Collect contact details and send to Secretary for incorporation into the data base
July Register local groups
October Launch groups with training activity
October & November - on going
- Attend field days, shows, special events with: launch CD, flyer, displays and information
All registered members - aim for one in each province with a registered member this year
Ongoing
Media
- Regular media coverage of activities of PNGWiAgDF aiming for 4 media releases this year
Secretary Ongoing
A minimum of two newsletters for this year
Secretary May & October
Design and construct a web page for PNGWiAgDF
Secretary and Josephine October 2009
- Regional, Provincial, National Awareness
Presentation to National Agricultural Council
Presentation to midterm review of National Agricultural Development Plan
Presentations to relevant conferences, NGOs, meetings as invited
Chairperson
Ongoing
Australian Women in Agriculture Annual AGM & Conference Canberra, August 14, 15, &16 2009.
Seek funding to finance a delegation to attend AWiA AGM and Conference: Representations made to DAL, Rural Industries Council (RIC), Ramu Sugar, Trukai,
Chairperson April & May
- Formal letter of invitation to PNGWiAgDF with details of funding support from Crawford Fund and itinerary
AWiA representatives ASAP in April 2009
- Call for expressions of interested from registered members to attend Conference and AGM
Secretary April 2009
- Delegation members confirmed and names sent to AWiA for registration and visas
Executive End of May, 2009
3. Capacity Building
Purpose
v Build and strengthen the capacity of PNGWiAgDF secretariat and its member groups by providing training;
v Being responsive to the identified needs of PNGWiAGDF members by coordinating relevant activities such as micro finance, markets;
Tasks
- Prepare a brief for a proposal for funding to design and implement a training program and schedule - include budget, timing, calendar, venues, presenters and content,
Secretary April
- Seek support from National Volunteer Services to undertake this plan
Chairperson May
- Publicise plan through newsletter, NARI and among registered members
Secretary Ongoing
Plan to cover courses in:
- Basic computer skills
- Writing project proposals
- Working with groups, PRAP and train the trainer
- Leadership and management
- Processes for monitoring, evaluation & reporting
- Practical, technical farming skills, downstream processing and sales and marketing
4. Strategic Partnerships
Purpose
- To ensure the long term sustainability of PNGWiAgDF by entering into strategic partnerships with key stakeholders such as; National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Australian Development Aid Programme (AusAID), the New Zealand Government's International Aid (NZAID), the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and the PNG Sustainable Development Limited.
- Establish and facilitate the promotion of integrated rural and urban community and agricultural development programmes in partnership with development partners and stakeholders;
NARI
- Draft letter to NARI seeking employment of 2 staff to manage mainstreaming of gender issues.
Kiteni and Chair April 2009
- Presentation to NARI Board/Council on 'mainstreaming" issues, processes for including women and on working in partnership with PNGWiAgDF
Chairperson As Soon As Possible
- Advocate to AUSAID and ADSF, DAL and other relevant stake holders on benefits of PNGWiAgDF being in a strong position to advise on mainstreaming activities in agriculture.
Chairperson & representatives from Australia May 2009
- Attend the June meeting of NAC to ensure support for the resolution concerning PNGWiAgDF adopted at the Madang Conference.
Chairperson June 2009
5. Member driven
Purpose : Being responsive to the identified needs of PNGWiAGDF members by coordinating relevant activities: training, micro finance, markets
Micro finance
- Call for volunteers to research methods for design and delivery of micro finance to registered members:
Maria May 2009
- An article in next PNGWiAgDF newsletter seeking registered members who have knowledge and experience to form a working party to advice on this project.
Secretary June
Training and marketing - refer to component 3 Capacity building.
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