What is CWD?

The Committee on Women and Development (CWD) is a statutory body of experts that advises the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and provides leadership in Africa on gender-related issues. The Committee meets every two years, and is comprised of twenty-one member States, five resource persons and fifteen NGO’s.

When was CWD established?

CWD was established at the recommendation of the representatives of national governmental organizations during the first Regional Conference on the Integration of Women in Development organized by ECA in Nouakchott, Mauritania in 1977.  During deliberations, strong sentiments were articulated in favour of the establishment of sub-regional and regional groupings to promote the exchange of experiences, to strengthen solidarity among African women, as well as to plan a common strategy for the integration of women in development  The Regional Conference recommended the establishment of committees for the implementation of plans of action for the integration of women in development within the framework of the ECA.

In this context the Regional Conference recommended the establishment of the African Regional Coordinating Committee for the Integration of Women in Development (ARCC) now known as the Committee on Women and Development.

In accordance with the above recommendation, the ECA Conference of Ministers established the structure and terms of reference for CWD as well as sub-regional coordinating committees in its resolution 365 (XIV) adopted on the 27 March 1979.

What is the Mandate of CWD?

The core mandate of CWD includes the following:

1.      To play an advocacy and policy guidance role with a view to promoting gender –sensitive policies and necessary institutional changes at national, sub-regional and regional levels;

2.      To undertake periodic review of progress in the implementation of strategies for the advancement of women at the national, sub-regional and regional levels;

3.      To play a substantive role in influencing ECA’s policy and strategies through the decisions of the Ministers responsible for economic and social planning and finance;

4.      To facilitate the exchange of information and experiences;

5.      To participate in the activities and meetings of the United Nations and other relevant organizations;

6.      To convene every five years, the African Regional Conference on Women and Development; and

7.      To report to the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on the activities and programmes carried out in the continent.

Who is a member of CWD?

The membership of the Committee is in three-categories: the Member States, the Non Government Organizations and Resource Persons.

1.     The Member States: According to the current rules, a total of nineteen member States are selected by alphabetical order and per sub-region to

constitute CWD every two years. Representation is by country rather than by individual. The language balance is also an important consideration.

The nineteen member States are distributed along the 5 sub-regions as indicated below.

Distribution of membership of CWD by sub-region

Sub-regions                       Number of Member countries

North Africa                                          3

West Africa                                          5

Central Africa                                        3

Eastern Africa                                       4

Southern Africa                                     4

The country that chairs the Sixth African Regional Conference on women until she is replaced at the next regional conference, and the country that chairs the Summit of the African Union are also part of CWD as ex-officio members

2.     Women’s Non-Government Organizations

Eighteen women’s non-governmental organizations are selected at the national, sub-regional and regional levels. The requirements include demonstrated track record of stability, good practice and sustainability as evidenced by:

·         Confirmation that they are representatives of women

·         At least five-years of stable existence

·         A stable financial base as portrayed by the annual reports

·         Demonstration of concrete results achieved through their direct intervention

Five organizations which are not women’s organizations are selected on the basis of the following characteristics:

4.     Resource persons

The category of five Resource Persons selected to be ex-officio members of CWD is filled by individuals with relevant technical skills and knowledge in any of the twelve critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. They are therefore expected to provide expertise in the priority areas of focus by the members States and the work of ECA. This includes preparation of technical documents, facilitation of sessions, participation in in-session discussions during the meetings of Experts and servicing CWD meetings upon request.

The membership of CWD also comprises observers from the African Union, the African Development Bank, sub-regional Intergovernmental organizations, and United Nations specialized agencies.

What are the modalities for renewal of membership?

Every two years, 2/3 of the membership is renewed while 1/3 is retained to preserve continuity. Operationally, ECA is responsible for selecting NGOs and Resource Persons that meet the above criteria and submitting it to the CWD Bureau for approval.

What is the composition of the CWD Bureau?

The Bureau is comprised of five Member States out of the nineteen countries selected as members. Each represents one of the five sub-regions of Africa. The positions of the members include:

1. The Chairperson
2. The First Vice-Chairperson
3. The Second Vice-Chairperson
4. First Rapporteur
5. Second Rapporteur

Additional members of the Bureau include the Chairperson of the Sixth African Regional Conference on Women who is an ex-officio until she is replaced at the next regional conference. The country that is chairing the Summit of the African Union also sits in the Bureau in order to create the necessary link between the Committee and the regional institution. The term of office of the Bureau is two-years.

When does CWD meet?

The Executive Secretary of the ECA convenes biennial meetings of CWD after consultations with the CWD Bureau. The rules of procedure of the Committee are the same as those of the Economic Commission for Africa. CWD meetings have a thematic orientation.

What are the achievements of CWD to-date?

Some of the achievements of CWD include:

The composition of the Committee on Women and Development

:: External Link to Table

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT (CWD)

NGO’s  (1997 – 1999)

Regional

1.  African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)

2.  Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF)

3.  African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (AFWE)

Sub-Regional 

1.  West African Women Association (WAWA)

2.  The Maghreb Women’s Union (MWU)

3.  Reseau des Femmes d’Afrique Centrale (RESEFAC)

4.  The East African Sustainability and Support Initiative (EASSI)

5.  Women and Law in Southern Africa Research Trust

Experts: NA

National  

1.  Mozambique National Association of Rural Women for Development (ANRU)

2.  Ligue Camerounaise pour l’Education de la Femme et  de l’Enfant (LEFE)

3.  Association Pag La Yiri

4.  Association Marocaine pour la Promotion de la Femme Rurale

5.  South African Women for Peace

NGOs  1999-2002

Regional

1. Réseau des femmes africaine pour le développement et la communication (FEMNET)
2. Association des femmes africaine pour la recherche et le développpement (AWORD)
3. Organisation panafricaine des femmes (PAWO)
4. Femmes, droit et développement en Afrique (FeDDAF)
5. Fédération africaine des femmes entrepreneurs (AFWE)
6. Réseau africaine de soutien aux femmes entrepreneurs (RASEF)

                               I.      Sub-Regional 

1. Centre de recherche et de formation pour les femmes arabes (CAWTAR)-Afrique du Nord.
2. Union des femmes du Maghreb-Afrique du Nord
3. Association des femmes d`Afrique de l`ouest (WAWA)- Afrique de l`ouest.
4. Réseau des femmes d`Afrique Centrale (RESEFAC)-Afrique Central
5. Eastern African Subregional Initiative for the Advancement of Women EASSI)-Afrique de l`Est

                            II.      National

1. Association Marocaine  pour la promotion des groupements agricoles (AMPER)-Afrique du Nord
2. Association PAGLAYIRI du Burkina Faso-Afriqu de l`Ouest
3. Association Camerounaise de femmes ingénieurs agronomes (ACAFIA)-Afrique Centrale).
4. Fondation pour l`assistance aux communautés locale au Congo-Afrique de l`Ouest.
5. Association des femmes entrepreneurs Ougandaises-Afrique de l`Est
6. Southern African Women for Peace –Afrique Australe
7. Association national des femmes rurales pour le développement du Mozambique (ANRU)-Afrique Ausatrale.

                         III.      EXPERTS

1. Nebiha Gueddana
2. Dr. Eusebe Alinohou
3. M. Kibora Ada Souleymane
4. Mme. Florence Iheme
5. Mme. Pauline Biyong
6. M. John K.M. Maina
7. M. Hassan A. Sunmonu

NGOs 2002-2004

Regional

1. The African Women Development Communication Network (FEMNET)
2. African Women`s Association for Research on development (AWORD)
3. Pan African Women`s Association (PAWO)

Sub-regional

1. Colléctif 95 Maghreb Égalité –Afrique du Nord
2. Réseau de communication, d`information et de formation des femmes (RECIF) –Afrique de l`Ouest
3. Central African Women Network (RECEFAC) –Afrique Centrale
4. Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI)-Afrique de l`Est
5. Southern African Research and Development Center (SARDC) –Afrique Auastrale

National

1. Association SOS femmes en détresse –Afrique du Nord
2. PAGLAYIRI Association  -Afrique de l`Ouest / Burkina Faso
3. League for Women and Child Education –Afrique Centrale / Cameroon
4. Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association –Afrique de l’Est / Ouganda
5. Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network –Afrique Australe

EXPERTS

1. M. Said Saadi
2. Mme Thérèse Keita
3. Dr. Mrs. Niger-Thomas Agbaw Margaret Ebai  Likowo
4. Sylvia Tamale
5. Angela Melo

Further Information

More information on the Committee on Women and Development may be obtained from:Ms Hannah Tiaga

African Center for Gender and Social Development
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Tel: 251 – 1 –44 52 35
Fax: 251 – 1- 51 27 8
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia