Gender and ICT Projects Database

In recognition of the Gender and ICT initiatives all over the globe, we have created this projects database and made it available online. The database is a repository of Gender and ICT projects which were nominated and had qualified for the GICT Awards 2003 screening. This will be enriched by each award year. We are hoping that these efforts will inspire others to network, advocate and mobilize ICTs for women's empowerment and gender equality.

A. PROJECT INFORMATION
1. a. Project Name or Title:	Navua Alta Rural Telecentre: The e-Chutney Experience!
b. Project URL, if any:	http://www.itc.gov.fj/echutney.html
a. Utilizes ICTs to promote women's economic empowerment
a.1 What types of ICT tools do you use?	Computer - Intel Pentium 2 350 MHz, 128 MB of RAM, 3GB Hard Drive with external 56K Fax Modem connected to telephone line. System - Microsoft Windows XP Professional version 2002 Software - Microsoft Office 2003
a.2 How does the application of these contribute to the promotion of women's economic empowerment and gender equality?	The ITC Services department of Fiji Government together with Ministry of Women started a Telecentre for rural women (a pilot project). The women and girls (housewives and school leavers) under this project had opportunity to use their home cooking skills to cook chutneys & Jams, prepare pickles (Seasonal fruits) and make other goods such as, Pillow cases, Quilted pot holders, Plastic Bag Holders, Fabric Shopping Bags with shoulder Straps. These are all regular usable items. All goods are sold using the email facility.
a.3 How was the achievement of women's economic empowerment and gender equality assessed/determined?	1. The group sales per fortnight is approximately $500.00 2. The group members are only women 3. The group members earn more through this project than what they will get with normal employment wages guidelines.
a.4 Which cultural, traditional and religious gender-biased notions and beliefs were challenged, if any?	The group is a multi-racial one, where Fijian Sisters make their own traditional goods and the Indo-Fijian sisters make their chutneys and Pickles. The group never faced any such challenges.
a.5 In what ways is your project different from others in enabling women's economic empowerment and gender equality?	This is a very new concept for a developing nation like Fiji. The Group has a computer with internet facility setup in a remote rural settlement in Vakabalea, Navua. This settlement is approximately 40km away from Suva City and lies along the Queens Road. The Settlement is made up of those farmers whose Native Land Lease has expired and have resettled here through the Fiji Government's initiative. There is no major industrial activity in this area and the community cannot enjoy the benefit of employment. It is expensive to travel to Suva for employment compare to the Fiji Wages Guide lines. Under this project the women's stays back in their settlement and at prepare their chutneys, jams, pickles and other stuff at the telecentre. A order form has been designed with brief notes about the group which is broadcasted to approximately 2500 civil servants work in central Suva area. Upon receiving the email from the group, customers fill order form and return via email. Orders are received analysed and delivery listing is made in accordance. The Deliveries made every fortnight (pay weeks).
a.6 What added value does your project bring to the ICT for development fora?	This project attracts more clients through advertisement in the internet. Customers receive the group's advertising copy and order form in their emails.
b. Upscales initiatives and community-centred technologies
b.1 Please narrate specific innovative or new approaches employed by the project, if any, that contribute to its development and its relevance to the community it is serving.	This project is the Fiji Government's initiative toward making telecentres in rural communities. This telecentre is the pilot project which is setup by Ministry of Finance - ITC Services and the Ministry of Women. The project includes a computer with internet access which is connected using a residential telephone line. The member's of this community also get access to other services such as using the internet, sending emails to families and friends. This service is not available in this area. In other words, this telecentre is the link for this rural community to the world.
b.2 Describe the processes or mechanisms that are in place to ensure the project's sustainability.	1. The Ministry of Finance - ITC Services provides the backup for the computer. 2.The project has a direct competitor which is backed by a leading franchise in Fiji. This enables the group to ensure the quality and quantity is better than the competitor. 3. The product testing facility is not available but is relied on home cooking skills. A mini Lab is proposed to enable testing and sampling. 4. Improving the quality of product through research, using new ingredients to improve taste.
b.3 How can your project be replicated elsewhere?	1. Project proposals 2. Meeting with prospective clients 3. Demonstration
c. Promotes cooperation and social networking
c.1 Who participates in the initiative? (Please identify participants, beneficiaries, and implementation partners. Provide specific demographic (age, income, rural/urban) information about your beneficiaries.)	1. The participants are the members in this group are women. The group has a multi-racial composition of both Indigenous Fijians and the Indo-Fijian. 2. The beneficiaries are customers who enjoy the great home cooking style chutney and other items prepared by the group. The ordering process is very simple. All they have to do is place their electronic order with us using the form and we deliver a new-taste of Fiji's favorites to their door. Employment is enjoyed the School Children and youths. They get paid for the packing, labeling, sealing and delivery. 3. The Implementation partners are The Ministry of Finance ? ITC services, Ministry of Women, Australian Youth Ambassador 4.The results are based on the first 4 batch runs of 2005 Participants/Beneficiaries: Civil Servants Age: 20 -29 yrs Income: $350.00 Urban Participants/Beneficiaries: Business Sector Age: 30 - 39 yrs Income: $760.00 Urban Participants/Beneficiaries: Rural Employees Age: 40 - 49 yrs Income: $280.00 Participants/Beneficiaries: Rural Individuals Age: 50 + yrs Income: $220.00
c.2 Please identify the project's most important partners and explain their role in the project and in helping to mainstream gender.	* Miss Pauline Chia - Australian Youth Ambassador: - this project was initiated by Miss Chia on her attachment with the ITC Services of Ministry of Finance for 1 year. She played the main role in educating and training the women for the project. Women have been trained to the limit that they can start heir small scale business using the ICT. This project was basically for women and girls who could generate income while staying home and help their families financially. * ITC Services, Ministry of Finance: Providing training facilities, technology and transportation for delivery on the initial batches. * Ministry of Women - helped Mss Pauline Chia in identifying the group.
c.3 How does the project foster cooperation and active participation among the different sectors (government, private sector, civil society) in the community?	This project has the perfect mixture of all parties concerned. The project is imported into the country through the Australian Youth Ambassador, The technology is supplied by Ministry of Finance (government), Packaging material is brought from the business sector, Raw material is purchased from individuals and Private Sector, financially assisted by non-government organisation and lastly the civil society is benefiting.
c.4 How does the project strengthen the capacity of those who are involved in its implementation?	This project is a pilot project for Fiji Islands. Looking at the progress of this group, the implementers have already started their project expansion work. The next two site to be opened will be Lautoka city (on the main island - Viti Levu) and Labasa (Largest town on the second largest island - Vanua Levu.
3. Learning Lessons and Sharing Strategies
a. Why, when, and how did the project begin?	Why? - This project is initiated by The Australian Youth Ambassador during her attachment with Ministry of Finance - ITC Services to promote Information, communication and Technology When? - This project was started in April 2004 but the actual operation came into place in August 2004. In Jan 2005, the group has started working independently. How? - The imitative of Miss Pauline Chia, The Australian Youth Ambassador to Fiji to promote gender equality, income generating activities and ICT
b. What are the goals of the initiative?	1. To help the rural unemployed housewives, school leavers and youths to earn a living through participation in this project. 2. To create more awareness of this project among rural population. 3. To promote more awareness programs for rural population such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, suicide, etc 4. To involve women's media initiatives in delivery awareness to rural communities
c. How are decisions being made in project implementation?	The Group has proper elected Office bearers and decisions are made by the president and members contribute towards that decision.
d. What mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency and accountability in implementing the project?	1. The members freely contribute their ideas. 2. The members develop new products and have it tested before release. 3. Proper records of all sales entered in computer. 4. The money is distributed to members immediately after the batch runs.
e. What results and/or immediate outcomes has the initiative achieved, and what impact has it had on the beneficiaries, participants, and community?	The sales Analysis in Dollar Value Run # Date Sales Amount 1 03/02/2005 $350.00 2 17/02/2005 $430.00 3 03/03/2005 $390.00 4 17/03/2005 $440.00 The impact on the parties were as follows: Beneficiaries - enjoyed quality home cooked chutney and other products made by the group Participants - had a big relieve in assisting their families to meet the needy children school expenses and other important payments Community - Has a excess to use the telecentre to communicate to the world
f. What tools and processes did you use to monitor and evaluate the results of the initiative?	Customers directly communicate using the email services. Their personal comments are emailed to the Group after deliveries and also their suggestion in improving the quality and business techniques are also welcomed through the same media. The Media initiative for women - fem'LINKpacific, using their suitcase radio to delivered the initiatives by the group from their rural setup some 40km away from Suva City. Radio Stations and Television in Fiji have interviewed members in major languages of Fiji
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of individual or organization	NAVUA ALTA RURAL TELECENTRE - The e-Chutney experience
2. Address	Lot 12 Batinikia / Busa ALTA Resettlement, Vakabalea P.O. Box 663, Navua
3. Region/Country	Pacific, Fiji
4. Telephone number	(679) 3450 136
5. Fax number	NONE
6. E-mail address	<mailto:echutney@connect.com.fj> echutney@connect.com.fj
7. Organisation's URL (if applicable):	http://www.itc.gov.fj/echutney.html
8. Name and designation of person submitting this application form	MRS BINITA KUMAR PRESIDENT
9. Organization's Vision/Mission	Vision - To promote gender equality and help the rural unemployed housewives, girls and youths to earn a living through participation in projects. Mission - To identify and make women's group in rural centers, provide ICT training, educate them of useful / seasonal resources and how to convert into finished products which could be sold to earn a living and support their families financially.
10. Where did you hear about the GICT Awards?	I have attended the 1 - 3 December 2004 Brisbane conference held at theQueensland University which was organized by GKP. I got some informationfrom that conference and was also Advised by Ms Sereana Saukalou of FijiCouncil of Social Services, Suva. I t