Agenda Feminist Media (Agenda)

CONTACT PERSON: Shireen Ragunan PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Room E302, Diakonia Centre 20 Diakonia Avenue Durban South Africa, 4001 POSTAL ADDRESS: P O Box 61163 Bishopsgate South Africa, 4008 TELEPHONE: +27 31 304 7001 FAX: +27 31 304 7018 E-MAIL:admin@agenda.org.zaWEB-SITE: Agenda websiteAgenda Feminist Media (Agenda) is a non profit feminist media organization based out of Durban. Agenda was founded in 1987 by a group of women activists; students and academics from the University of KwaZulu Natal, and works to address the marginalization and oppression of South African women. The organization is committed to giving women a forum, a voice and skills to articulate their needs and interests towards transforming unequal gender relations; they target members of women's organisations, individuals and organisations interested in gender equality. Agenda provides a platform for dialogue for women and men on gender relations and issues pertaining to gender equity through publication of a journal, production of a radio program, and facilitation of a writing program. Agenda values participatory and transparent processes and are committed to the principles of non-sectarianism, anti-racism and anti-homophobia. ObjectivesThe main goal of Agenda is to confront and question the current understandings and practices of gender with the hopes of creating new understandings of gender relations. Agenda seeks to enhance the development of women—encouraging them to reflect on their experiences—by building their capacity to organize and through the creation of spaces that help women get access to the information that they need.

Areas of WorkThe Agenda journal bridges gaps between the theoretical and practical aspects of work on feminism and gender. The journal has regional and international reach, and offers an important space for women and men to generate discussion, new thinking, research and debate on women’s rights issues in Africa and beyond. The journal is produced on quarterly basis and to date Agenda has produced 74 publications. Agenda’s community radio program focuses more on reaching the poor majority by developing programs in local languages. The radio programs seek to:

• Strengthen and develop the capacity of Community Radio Station broadcasters to broadcast issues of interest to women and to incorporate gender as a crosscutting theme at station governance levels and in all radio programs;
• Provide ‘engendered information’ to the public on issues of political, economic and social issues;
• Encourage ongoing dialogue and debate on gender issues and power relations between women and men.

The writing skills program attempts to capacitate aspiring female writers and poets. Trainees are afforded an opportunity to publish in the Agenda journal. Agenda is also linked with academic institutions and provide internships for young graduates particularly in the field of Journalism and Gender Studies.

Beyond their programs, Agenda is also involved in various campaigns, collaborations and networks: for example, the Director attends meetings and workshops hosted by the Provincial Gender Machinery and Women’s Parliament.

Capacity on Women’s Rights and Gender EqualityAs a feminist organization, Agenda’s gender analysis skills, knowledge and capacity is strong and its approach is transformative in the sense that programs and educational materials work to advance gender equality. Through the use of media, Agenda provides a forum for women to articulate their needs and interests towards transforming unequal gender relations, and building the capacity of feminist activists engaged in media projects.

In 2008 Agenda underwent an organizational review process, as there had recently been a huge turnover in staff. The objective of this process was to conduct a comprehensive review of Agenda’s systems, structures, programmatic approach and policies to align the organizational structure and work operations with its vision, and to position the organization for the future.