Micah Network Gender Forum

The Micah Network Gender Forum was established in October 2007 and has approximately 20 members who are gender and development practitioners.

Terms of Reference

1. Name: Micah Network Gender Forum

• 'Forum' to indicate exchange of ideas and not 'network' so as to differentiate easily from Micah 'Network'

2. Aim:

• To change the attitude and practice of churches and societies to be more gender equal.

3. Objectives:

• to share information, learning, strategies, ideas, people and resources (eg theological reflections, case studies, good practices, policy and briefing papers and training materials) to better equip one another to mainstream and integrate a gender into all our work
• to provide a space for open debate, fellowship, prayer, sharing of struggles and issues for our work in mainstreaming gender
• to provide a space for development and dissemination of theological reflection on gender in relief and development and act as a resource for the church where appropriate
• to provide space for reflection on gender in the different cultural settings with the accompanying challenges that this brings
• to act as a resource for the wider Micah Network member base (eg capacity development, speaking into the church on gender, links with HIV, advocacy)
• to act, where appropriate, as a collective lobbying body on gender in relief and development with multilateral organizations

4. Activities

• Develop a gender policy and good practice guidelines for the Micah Network and other resources where needed
• Explore the possibility of a Micah Network satellite consultation at the next international AIDS conference in Mexico, 2008 on gender, HIV and the role of the Church
• Request a Micah Network gender conference
• Request a day within the international conference to focus on gender
• Develop a gender curriculum for theological colleges
• Explore the possibility of action research around positive alternative constructs of masculinity. For example redefining courage, what does courage look like in today’s world, how can we use our principles of Christianity to inform what courage could look like?

5. Scope:
Types of discussion/ information exchange:

• Sharing learning, knowledge assets and good practices (case studies, guidelines, tools, manuals etc)
• Prayer Diary
• Theology
• Online debate/blog forum (if demand requires and facilities available)
• News updates (eg news and collaboration opportunities from other networks, coalitions, etc)
• Event updates
• Research and Resources (print, film and music, poems, drama scripts, arts & crafts)

Other specific working groups may emerge (eg to develop resources where a need is identified).

6. Modes of discussion

• Face to face: At Micah Network Consultations (eg October 2007, A Christian Response to the Marginalised, Malaysia) and strategic consultations on key issues
• Email: the main mode, incorporating listserver, email discussion techniques and web archive of postings (Dgroups)
• Website: key resources to be accessible on Micah Network website, blog, debate forum
• Teleconference/skype etc: secondary mode for sub-group project work

7. Top Priorities

• Teaching materials
• Education and equipping for roles
• Trained men – models, coaches, advocates
• Gender Assessment Tools
• Gender and the Church/Theology/Women in Leadership
• Issues affecting girl child – female infanticide, child marriage
• Domestic Violence
• Trafficking and migration
• Gender and HIV
• Stigma and Discrimination
• Resources – Money and strategy

8. Commitments

• Share and create resources
• Start a country gender forum

If you would like to enquire about joining the Micah Network Gender Forum, please contact the facilitator, Mandy Marshall at Mandy.Marshall@tearfund.org