Women, Agriculture and Resource Management (WARM) Meeting

December 10, 2008
IFPRI Conference Room

Meeting Minutes:

The meeting was attended by 11 members and the special guests to the meeting were Linda Nghatsane, a woman farmer from South Africa and Annina Lubock, on Gender and Poverty at IFAD.
Linda informed that a new WOCAN chapter was to be started in South Africa, which will be covering most of the activities in southern Africa. South Africa is scheduled to be the focal point for this. Currently there are 5 members in the focal group. Their main responsibilities are lobbying with the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water and other government departments in working with WOCAN. Other areas they will focus are scoping on issues pertaining to women, drafting a concept paper and issues like the need for training of the women and opening of an office space.
Annina also informed the meeting that they were starting a WARM network in Rome. Their first meeting will be in Mid-December. About the current state of gender work at IFAD, and what led to the formation of the WARM network, She talked about the need to be imaginative with donors and the gradual increased need for parallel funding at IFAD. IFAD along with WOCAN is setting up a leadership training program aiming at very poor women. It will also look at how men could be involved in supporting women leaders.
Catarina mentioned about the program at IFPRI which provides training for trainers. She mentioned that the main problem about women trained through various training programs for women leaders are not taught how to re-train others. Linda mentioned that WOCAN is stepping carefully and doing a lot of background work in South Africa so that they are sure about the programs they will implement. Otherwise, she reiterated that there was a high chance that the women farmers will get tired of just meeting and talking without any substantive action.
The next issue in the agenda was the January 21st meeting which will have Monique Barbut, CEO GEF as the invited guest. This meeting would be a big event for WARM and it is looking towards getting a good turnout for the event. The venue is still under consideration. Julia Clones, Catarina Cronquist offered to help for the 21st meeting. Lucy also offered to put the meeting date onto Ruth and Agnes's calendar, so that they could decide on attending. Two other parallel networks in DC, Women, Energy and Environment group and the Women's Aquatic Network
Jeannette thanked the members present for making it to the meeting at such a short notice. She hoped to see everyone at the January 21st meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.

List of Attendees:

1. Jeannette Gurung
2. Annina Lubock
3. Linda Nghatsane
4. Katherine coon
5. Lucy Bassett
6. Suman Gautam
7. Debdatta Sengupta
8. Catarina Cronquist
9. Deborah Rubin
10. Cristina Manfre
11. Julia Clones