Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia
1. About FAWEZA
The Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA) is a membership non-governmental organisation, NGO, whose mandate is to advocate for policies and programmes that promote gender equity at all levels of the education system in Zambia. It was registered in Zambia on 8th March 1996 and is one of the 33 National Chapters in Africa that is affiliated to the Nairobi based Pan-African NGO, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). FAWE is a network of leading African women educationalists that are well placed to influence education policy aimed at transforming African education systems to become responsive to the specific education needs of girls and women in order to accelerate their participation at all levels of the education system.
FAWEZA’S concern continues to be the equitable participation of females in all spheres and at all levels of national development. This position gives rise to a number of considerations on how to ensure that girls and women acquire education for development. FAWEZA is basically an advocacy NGO and successfully advocated for policies and programmes that have improved girls’ participation in education as well as advocated fro removal of negative cultural practices that have perpetuated the disadvantaged position of girls and women.
As a short-term goal, FAWEZA will endeavour to make a significant contribution to girls’ access to quality education with particular focus on working towards the Education for All (EFA) goal of achieving gender parity in education by 2005. However, its long-term goal is to increase girls and women’s enrolment, retention, progression, qualitative performance and completion at all levels in the education system. Indeed FAWEZA believes that the acquisition of education is an empowerment strategy for women and girls.
FAWEZA’S Vision:
‘A Zambia where all females and males have equal education opportunities and participate equitably in the sustainable development and prosperity of the country by 2015’
To ensure that this vision is realised, FAWEZA sets out its aim as that of fostering mutual assistance and collaboration among serving and non- serving female educationalists in learning and training institutions, and research scientists; in developing national capabilities to accelerate the participation of girls and women at all levels of the education system in Zambia.
FAWEZA’S Mission Statement:
‘To advocate for educational policies and programs that promote gender equity and for the removal of cultural practices that impinge on female education as well as to enhance participation of all those involved in the promotion and provision of education with special attention to girls and women.’
FAWEZA’S AIM:
To increase girls’ and women’s enrolment, retention, progression, qualitative performance and completion at all levels in education.
FAWEZA'S MAIN OBJECTIVES
1. To promote girls’ learning achievement and progression rate at Basic and High School levels.
2. To stimulate government’s efforts in militating against the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and youths.
3. To invigorate political commitment to EFA goals
4. To raise public awareness to the importance of the education of females.
5. To strengthen non-governmental efforts to advance girls education in Zambia.
6. To enhance the capacity of education practitioners in the Government and Community school education system in promoting female education.
7. To monitor gender programme activities and utilization of programme resources.
8. To enhance the Human and Financial Resources capacity of FAWEZA.
GOALS:
Strategic Objective 1: Advocate for policies and programmes that support the education of girls and women.
Strategic Objective 2: Implement pilot demonstrations/interventions that enhance girls’ and women’s participation in education
Strategic Objective 3: Create and strengthen collaborative partnerships and networks for effective implementation and monitoring.
Strategic Objective 4: Build capacity of FAWEZA at all levels to effectively carry out its mandate.
The above four Strategic Objectives give rise to the following Programme Areas:
1. Programmes for the education of girls and women
2. Advocacy and lobby
3. Partnerships and Networks and Monitoring
4. Organisational capacity building
Strategic Objective 1: Implement pilot demonstrations/interventions that enhance girls’ and women’s participation in education
The overall objectives covered under this strategic objective are:
• To use existing data to design quality programmes that take into account the specific needs of girls and women in education.
• To promote interventions that increase girls and women’s participation and achievement in SMT Subjects.
• To design quality programmes that address girls and women’s specific needs.
• To collaborate with government and other partners in efforts to militate against the impact of HIV/AIDS on OVCs.
Strategic Objective 2: Advocate for policies and programmes that support the education of girls and women.
The overall objectives covered under this strategic objective are:
• To invigorate political commitment to EFA goals.
• To create public awareness to the importance of female education.
• To create public awareness on children with SEN
• To create HIV/AIDS awareness and instil life skills in girls and boys.
Strategic Objective 3: Create and strengthen collaborative partnerships and networks for effective implementation and monitoring.
The overall objectives covered under this strategic objective are:
• To stimulate government, donors, communities, parents, CBOs and NGOs to increase their investments in education, especially girl-child education.
• To strengthen non-governmental efforts to advance girls education in Zambia
• To build and strengthen networks with and among other NGOs in the promotion of female education.
• To monitor gender and equity policies and programmes.
Strategic Objective 4: Build capacity of FAWEZA at all levels to effectively carry out its mandate.
The overall objectives covered under this strategic objective are:
• To promote women’s leadership, policy-making and research skills within the education sector through targeted capacity-building programmes.
• To build the organizational capacity of FAWEZA staff and membership to the level of efficiency that will enable it fulfil its objectives.
FAWEZA MEMBERSHIP
FAWEZA membership is spread out through out the country. Membership is derived mainly from the teaching fraternity. These are the membership categories:
a) Full Membership: Females in education and research
b) Associate membership: Females not in education but interest in girls’ education
c) Affiliate membership: Men in education and outside who are interested in girls education
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
a) Internal Operational Guidelines: FAWEZA’s operations and functions are guided by its constitution and other guidelines as laid down by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and sanctioned by the General Assembly, which is the highest policy making body of FAWEZA. Operational manuals, such as the financial and human resource guidelines set boundaries for staff and board members.
b) Structural Arrangements:
• Provincial and District Chapters: FAWEZA has created a network of nine Provincial and seventy-two district chapter where membership is anchored. The volunteer members make up the human resource capacity of the organisation.
• The National Secretariat: The National Secretariat is the hub of the organisation. It is responsible for co-ordination of all FAWEZA programmes. The National Secretariat, headed by a National Co-ordinator, is answerable to the National Executive Committee, which is headed by National Chairperson. The Secretariat has the following full time staff:
1. National Coordinator - 1
2. Programme Managers - 2
3. Finance and Administration Manager- 1
4. Provincial Focal Point Persons 9
5. Programme Assistants - 3
6. Technical Assistant - 1
7. Assistant Accountant - 1
8. Documentation Officer - 1
9. Receptionist - 1
10. Driver - 3
11. Office Messenger - 1
12. Gardner - 1
• The Executive Board
Core NEC * Chairperson - Mrs B.Y . Chilangwa
Vice Chairperson - Sr A.Mwansa
* Secretary - Mrs A. Imonda
* Treasurer - Mrs A. Nzala
Provincial Chairperson’s representative - Mrs M. Chilombwe
* National Coordinator (Ex-officio) - Mrs D.N. Chimuka
Full NEC The Core NEC plus the 9 provincial chapter chairs
* Signatories to FAWEZA Accounts
SOURCES OF CORE FUNDS OR INCOME OF FAWEZA
o Pool funding for the Five-year Strategic Plan: 2005 - 2009 from Royal Netherlands Embassy
o Ear-marked funding from USAID, OSISA, UNICEF, FAWE, FHI/Youth net and UNESCO.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
2005 audited accounts is available.
External Audit: Yes
Outstanding liabilities - No
Latest evaluation of projects: Evaluation report of the 2000 - 2005 Strategic Plan and the USAID Pre-Award Assessment ( both available)
CONTACT ADDRESS
The Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA)
P. O. Box 37655, LUSAKA
Physical Address: Plot 6680 Chiwalamabwe road, Olympia Extension
Tel: +260 1 295482
Email: faweza@iconnect.zm
