EAC Secretariat engages Media Houses on implementation of the 50 Million African Women Speak Project
…..Promoting the financial inclusion alongside the 50 Million African Women Speak Networking Platform Project (50MAWSP) is a social responsibility for East African Media outlets.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 24th June 2019: The East African Community Secretariat under 50 Million African Women Speak Project (50MAWSP) has been engaging different Media houses in the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi in an effort to gain the media’s support as key Project stakeholders.
The 18th to 21st June 2019 discussions focused on how best to ensure effective media coverage during the 50MAWS platform launch and as well as awareness raising campaign after the launch.The 50MAWS platform, which has been under construction for the last eight months, is expected to be launched by December 2019. The technical development of the platform has been finalized and the Partner States have embarked on populating the platform with information.
Speaking during the discussions, EAC Principal Gender and Community Development Officer, Generose Minani noted that the EAC was keen on informing women in business in the region on this valuable resource. “We decided to come to consult with you on the implementation of this Project because of the important role that media can play”, she added.
On their part, media houses noted that they have already running programs tackling topics on women’s economic empowerment as well as other related issues. Representatives of Media Houses in Burundi pledged and affirmed their commitment with the EAC to further advance the women empowerment agenda.
They went ahead to suggest the use a media synergy to sensitize and raise awareness around issues that are affecting women in business. “Media synergy in Burundi has proven to be the best way to reach out to many people at the same time in the country,” the representative reaffirmed.
All media outlets including radio, TV, print and online, agreed to tackle one topic at the same hour across the whole country. That way, all consumers of information in the country are exposed to same information at the same time. The Burundi Media Association (ABR) coordinates the event in an effort to ensure sameness of messages sent out.
The representatives of the Rwandan media outlets expounded on the fact that women economic empowerment was a social responsibility that interested them all. They noted that the 50 Million African Women Project was in line with what was already being undertaken in the country. Like their counterpart Burundi , the Rwanda Media have programs that address matters on women empowerment.
In the Rwandan context, media representatives have proposed to use more radio for efficient outreach. Surveys conducted so far show that most Rwandans get information through radio as compared to other channels.
Authorities from Ministries of Gender that are coordinating the Project’s implementation in each Partner State, noted with appreciation the Media commitment to promoting the platform. “We leave the meeting with the confidence of seeing a quick popularity of the platform when it is launched” they noted.
Media houses representatives however expressed the need of the 50 Million Project to fund some costs and media houses to bring in their expertise in that partnership.The meetings were attended by CEOs, Directors, Chief Editors, Program Managers and Journalists from various Media houses in the two Partner States.
The EAC Secretariat plans to carry out this activity of media engagement in all Partner States.
About the 50MAWSP
The 50 Million African Women Speak Networking Platform Project (50MAWSP) aim to contribute to the economic and social empowerment of women across 38 African countries through the provision of an online networking platform to access information on financial and non-financial services. Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project targets 50 Million women in business and is implemented by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community for Western African States (ECOWAS).
-ENDS-
For more information please contact:
Achel Bayisenge,
Content Manager for the 50MWS Project
Tel: +255 786726230;
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified
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