1. DOCUMENTATION GERES-NET Gender Research & Networking Gender Research & Networking THE AHFAD - HUMBOLDT LINK PROGRAMME OPEN SPACE Book of proceedings Organised by Dr. Parto Teherani-Kroenner Unit for Gender Research in Rural Areas At the chair of Gender & Globalization Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture Humboldt University Berlin Facilitation: Farah Lenser with Heiner Benking, Open-Forum Documentation Geres-Net

2. Invitation: Open Forum: Gender Research & Networking, Facilitator: Farah Lenser Thursday: June, 29th 2006: 10:30h - 22:00h The Open Forum invites all participants to contribute own ideas concerning the topic of Gender Research & Networking. Open and free dialogue is en vogue. The method of Open Space Technology is enjoying popularity similar to the future labs of Robert Jungk several years ago. For further research of Open Dialogue please have a look at: LINK LINKLINK The originator of Open Space, Harrison Owen, in his works with groups, discovered that, if one has an open space and some ingredients, and then adds some roles for moving in-between internal and external dialogues, then surprises are possible. A sample open space might be a marketplace with the law of the two feet (in which people can vote with their feet) by moving between places and groups) with a bulletin board, and then allow or encourage some participants to adopt the roles of butterflies (a person sitting, for example, at leisure, at the bar or playing guitar) or of bumble-bees (a person cross-fertilization by jumping from one group to another). This set-up enables movement and dialogue between the other forms of dialogue, and can add surprises. In surprise and exchange, we experience a self-organization in social systems that is similar to the evolution that biologists see in nature. Owen has featured the process in great detail in an interview: LINKLINK In the evening on a boat tour through the channels of Berlin we will not only have a wonderful dinner but continue networking and enjoying old and new friendships. Invitation

3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES Whoever comes is the right people. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. Whenever it starts is the RIGHT time. When it is over, its over. OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Open-Space slides

4. Whenever it starts is the right time. OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

5. Whoever comes is the right peOPLE OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

6. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

7. When it is over, its over. OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

8. THE ONE LAW: The law of the two feet

9. BUMBLEBEES and BUTTERFLIES OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

10. BE PREPARED TO BE SURPRISED OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

11. OPEN SPACE 29th of June 2006 GERES-NET Gender Research & Networking Issue: SAMPLE FORM What was done? (keep it short and simple) Convened by: (first and last name) Other participants: (first and last name) GERES-NET Gender Research & Networking, Gender & Globalisierung Faculty of Agriculture and Horticultur, Humboldt University Berlin Issue sample form

12. Democracy – Freedom –Policy- Cyber Culture Eman El-Hadary - Freedom of Coice - Equity Eman El-Hadary Which kind of gender theories is useful for political action and how can they be employed? Heike Jensen Difference and similarities in different cultures Shahla Ezazi Empowering women in use of ITC- Technologies internationally - using technical tools for networking - creating access, training in media competences, equal opportunities Doris Maasbau / Duscha Rosen / Women’s Computer Center Berlin ISSUES of OPEN-SPACE Geres-Net Issues

13. Linkage / relation between gender studies (university) & society (e.g. daily life, actions…) Is there a gap? How to bridge it? Nathalie Lohmann Do we have a common ground? Ulrike Schultz How can we do effective networking on gender research? Dang Tung Hoa Researcher (in Gender Studies) Discussion of Methodology How can we contact and gain benefits? Safia Abdelrahman environment / environmental conservation / women perception towards their environment Mohassin Elabass ECO-Feminism (woman and nature) My concern: to build little group as a mobile rural library to gather indigenous knowledge to know local capacities and to exchange our experience about women issues. Mansoureh Shojayee

14. Gender Research Concepts in Agriculture Concern: Gender Research Methodology and approach Luong Thi Thu Hang Gender Issue of poverty and good safety (securities) My concern: of gender in sustainable livehood and household level and in poverty alleviation programs. Question: How Relationship between gender issues and policies maker? Luong Thi Thu Hang Institutionalization of Gender Studies – 1: Researches on Gender (especially rural woman) 2: Different approaches Farideh Sarhadi Joint-Curriculum development: gender § rural development (Agriculture & Forestry)Dang Tung Hoa Women & Gender Studies in agricultural curriculum in Nigerian Universities Olanike Deji Consider how to cooperate on curriculum development for agricultural science Margreet van der Burg

15. Gender & Peace Education Martine Wiltzius 1: International comparison of institutionalization of gender networking – what does gender mean? 2: What are our difficulties to network with each other at the meso level? (women’s gathering groups) Nahid Motiee Societal Role of University / academics Uncovering the hidden! Radwa Khalil How can we integrate gender research findings to a national policy? (Ikhlas Nouh Osman) Methological problems with gender research and how to overcome it? Ikhlas Nouh Osman Who gives (Sudanese feminism) and others countries the right to raise, tackle, decide on behave of other women (poor educated, urban rural) Mai Ezzeldin Osman

16. Concerns with women at disadvantage positions, gender-based violence considering the conflict in Darfur. How to advocate for changing governmental policies / institutions towards more gender sensitivity – perhaps adopt the strategy of sensitizing a champion leader who can be influential in creating change. Democracy and freedom of expression are paramount for overall development. Shahira Osama University’s curriculums My concern: How to integrate Gender Studies in University’s curriculums Asma Hussein

17. Sample group reports: Groupname: GAYA 1.MahassinSudan 2.MansourehShojaeeIran (eco-feminisme) 3.Luong Thi Thu HangVietnam 4.Ngo Thi ThuanVietnam (agriculture economy) Topic: Gender Research Methodology and Approach in: 1). Gender Poverty reduction and food security link between gender research and policy maker; 2). Environment concertation and perception of woman towards their environment; 3). Eco-feminism; nature and women; Issues: -Men do not participant in to women’s activities -Women has limited access to new technology; -Women lack awareness to credit; -Women has very hackworks in family and in Agriculture -Difficulties in getting access to agriculture forestry extension information. -Lack of markets for products. Diminishing natural resource (for example: Flood, drought) -Lack of manufacture land for poor woman and man. - Sample group reports

18. Eco – feminism : It is an approach about gender and Ecology and nature. It tells us about equality and legal relation between human and nature, human’s nature and pure nature, men and Eco –feminism : It is an approach about gender and Ecology and nature. It tells us about equality and legal relation between human and nature, human’s nature and pure nature, men and women. It explain that power- relation IS A PHENOMEN WHICH IS MADE BY HUMAN; AND IT SUGGESTS TO RESPECT EQUAL EXISTENCE RIGHTS FOR ALL BIO-DIVERSITIES; AS THEY ARE AND AS THEY NEED:ECO- FEMINISM IS FOR EQUALITY; PEACE ; NATURE; AND IT IS AGAINST POVERTY; ILLEGALITY; WAR AND EVERYTHING WHICH BOTHER NATURE SUCH AS NUCLEAR ENERGY. -Environment and women C. Methodology 1)Approach method -Gender approach (men, women) -Participatory -Social approach -Bottom up 2)Data collection method -Quantitative data: questionnaire -Qualitative data : group discussions, in-depth interview -interview, workshop 3)Data analysis -SPSS, Swot

19. Issue: Curriculum Development in Agriculture and Forestry 1. Collecting pressing issues: -More methodology in the curriculum to secure quality of the research of students -Different ways to design the courses -Lack of literature access (f.e. languages problems require translation to domestic languages, no priority to buy English literature for lecturer only) -Weak network in the universities -Should it be the choice to bring gender in existing course or give separate gender course? 2. Recommendations for Implementation of new courses: -Documentation of course assessment -Sharing ideas on possibilities for improvement -Strategise steps that are feasible -Getting inform colleagues and management -Combination of the theory and practices -Exchange on methodology issues 3. Commitment: -Network on the course design and sharing existing curriculum/ courses -To further consider how to establish support system for international resources for reviewing curriculum, write support letter Convened by: Margreet van der Burg Other participants: Widad Ali Abdelrahman, Olanike F. Deji, Ahlam Gorafi, Dang Tung Hoa, Muna, Safia Abdehahman, Ikklos Nouth Osman

20. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Calling the Circle

21. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Calling the Circle

22. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Marketplace

23. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Working- Spaces WORKING-SPACES

24. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Food & Fun FOOD & FUN

25. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Working- Spaces WORKING-SPACES

26. OPEN SPACE GERES-NET Impressions - Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Closing Circle & Bye-Bye CLOSING CIRCLE & BYE-BYE

27. The Circle is the fundamental geometry of open human communication. Who ever heard of a Square of friends? OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Open-Space slides

28. Dialogue Phenomena OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

29. OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

30. The ultimate facilitator will do nothing and remain totally invisibel OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006

31. Re-inventing Democracy with generative and disciplined transdisciplinary intergenerational – intercultural Dialogues and Conversationsintergenerational – intercultural Dialogues and Conversations http://www.open-forum.de/open-space-open-forum.html http://open-forum.de/re-invent-democracy.html http://www.inst.at/trans/15Nr/08_3/08_3inhalt.htm http://benking.de/dialog/dialog-among-civilizations.htm http://farah-lenser.de/dialog/agora-fuschl-lenser-benking.html OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006 We recommend: http://openspaceworld.com/ http://www.kommunikative-welt.de www.laetusinpraesens.org/links/webdial.php http://pnyv.org http://www.culture-of-peace.org/ Links and recommendations

32. Comments of participants We should communicate with each other. In open space all participant had the chance to discuss with each other. Dr. Luong Thi Thu Hang (Vietnam) I enjoy it very much to be together with you…. We did not have enough time some times to speak to every body. But I enjoyed the open space because we could discussed many different issues and we could reach some communalities. So I enjoyed the open space. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schulz (Berlin) I think the most innovative part of conference were the workshops in the open space part, which gave also a chance to the participants to come closer and interacting more. Dr. Mohassin Elabbas (Sudan) I believe it would be very good to start with the open space, because the open space was really an awakening thing, it was really good. I believe, we should start with open space! Eman El-Hadary (Egypt)

33. We are thankful to: the supporter of the Open Space, the Schweisfurth Foundation in Munich, see also the report of the Schweisfurth Foundation by Isabel Boergenreport of the Schweisfurth Foundation and to Harrison Owen in the USA and to Michael Pannwitz in Germany for introducing Open Space Technology™ and providing the necessary publications and materials to perform open spaces.Harrison Owen Michael PannwitzOpen Space Technology™ GERES-NET is funded by the DAAD - German Academic Exchange Programme.DAAD OPEN SPACE GERES- NET Berlin, June 29th, 2006 Thanks