Resource Directory for African Women Journalists

The African Women's Media Center (AWMC) is pleased to issue this first edition of its Resource Directory for African Women Journalists. As the only comprehensive guide of its kind, this directory lists a host of resources critical to women seeking to strengthen their skills as journalists and to enhance their professional standing within the media.

Because women are often excluded from informal networks within newsrooms, and from access to information about training and resources, it is important that they have a set of tools developed specifically to meet their needs. The AWMC Resource Directory for African Women Journalists has been designed as a vehicle to link women to the institutions and opportunities that can offer them support, training, knowledge and connections. We hope women will use this directory as a tool in developing their careers and reaching out to their colleagues - both women and men - on the continent.

From Angola to Zimbabwe, women are recognizing the value of learning from each other. While men often enhance their visibility and career opportunities through socializing with male colleagues after work, this kind of networking is still considered inappropriate for women in many cultures. Women's media associations offer women the opportunity to discuss common work concerns and develop strategies for overcoming personal and professional obstacles.

Over the past decade, a number of strong and active women's media networks have formed in Africa. Some of the continent's most successful groups such as the Tanzanian Women's Media Association (TAMWA), the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) and the West African Media Network (WAMNET) have expanded to offer their members training, access to career resources and a "unified voice" in larger journalists' unions. The listing below is provided to encourage women to contact and join associations in their own countries. It is also meant to encourage alliances among organisations in order to share advice on fundraising, organisational development, outreach and ideas for successful programme activities.

In addition to networking through women's media associations, women journalists also need to increase their visibility with male colleagues. The list below also includes contact information for African national and regional media associations. It is important that women's voices are heard and that their issues are placed on the agenda of these associations as well.

Acknowledgements

The International Women's Media Foundation and the African Women's Media Center (AWMC) wish to gratefully acknowledge the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP/Bureau for Africa) for underwriting the publication of the Resource Directory for African Women Journalists. UNDP collaborates with the media, non-governmental and governmental organisations, the private sector and UN system agencies to promote the advancement of women and gender equality.

We also wish to thank the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) for sharing its list of fellowship opportunities, and the various offices of the United States Information Service (USIS), organisations and individuals who contributed to the collection of the information included in this directory.