NGOs and ICTs : UNFT’s experience By Ms Rim Belhaj UNFT Executive Board Member Hammamet :May 26 th,

National Union of Tunisian Women (UNFT) Created on January It focuses since, on Tunisian women’s promotion, under all issues : Legislative, social, educational, cultural, intellectual economic. The organization currently counts members set out of 28 Tunisians regional delegations and more than 20 sections in other countries. 2

Gender & ICT’s The concept of Gender equality is a common concern all over the world. ICT gives more hopes especially that ICT have a potential to : bring development for a group, country, eliminate poverty empower weaker segment The pre-condition is a political will and a country national ICT Strategy : Hopefully we belong to a country where both are available. 3

UNFT & ICTs Objectives Address Gender Equity into access to and use of ICT in both urban and rural areas, Raise awareness among women from different social level on the role of ICT for local development and empowerment, Empower women through ICT-related capacity building to be fully involved in income generation and wealth creation, Encourage women to master technology in order to develop innovative skills and contribute to economic and social development. Encourage women to switch from passive users to active knowledge and technology developers 4

Prior to WSIS Field Actions : Organized regional conferences related to women and ICTs Offered ICT training sessions International conferences «Women in the Information society : The Process», August 9-10, 2005; 5

WSIS Parallel event during WSIS Nov 2005 : « Networking, Gender and Virtual : Successful Strategies, Opportunities and Challenges» 6

Post WSIS Events continued such as a workshop on : «Family and Information Technologies : to strenghen socio-economic development », Target population : 200 students from poor areas. Trained of the Internet use Visited different areas of The Science City 7

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Reaching out locals : IT trainings during illiteracy Classes 9

Launching IT Clubs in Rural areas. 10

Launching IT Clubs in Rural areas. 11

Experiencing Computers in UNFT’s kindergartens 12

FUTUR PROJECTS UNFT’s 13

Partnership project with Microsoft Cyber Security : Awareness Campaigns for parents and student Training of trainers program related to e- security Digital literacy Introducing new IT based curriculum in UNFT’s training centers Training of trainers program Pre-certification programs 14

UNFT Support to Nascent Women Entrepreneurs: Micro loans Training of Coaches’ Trainers 15

UNFT & entrepreneurship First step started on late 2005 : Micro loans (µcredits) Target: Jobless young people with or without university degree 4 governorates : Beneficiaries (15% handicapped people, 25% having the level of the primary studies, 15% university level, fields covers: 6% agriculture, 20% craft industry, 31% trade, 43% service sector). 98% recovery UNFT uses its own volunteers from professional alliances to procure the legal and management support. 16

Second Step : Training for coaching Potential and Nascent Women Entrepreneurs Objective Promote and develop the women’s entrepreneurship presence within the country Content Train a group of “resource women” Prerequisite: experience & skills in firm’s creation Basic knowledge to become a coach: use of distance training Action-training: workshops, hands on experience 17

Thank You for your attention & Time 18