Africa Film WebMeeting


Message from: Steve Smith (SteveSmith@XC.Org)
About: African Media Partners Network

Mon, 25 Jan 1999 09:08:25 -0500

  • Next message: Steve Smith: "African Political Films, a listing"
    Below is a summary of the activities of the African Media Partners =
    Network.
    They are NOT donors or funders. They are involved in coordinating
    reflection=20
    and discussion on support to African film and video production in an
    informal=20
    network of donors.... They are based in France. I have been =
    corresponding=20
    with Florence Lemoine
    Tel 33 (0) 1 40 05 61 43
    Fax 33 (0) 1 40 05 61 10
    minery@gret.org <mailto:minery@gret.org>=20

    regards,=20
    Steve Smith, moderator
    ssmith@dsr-inc.com
    ------------
    An introduction to the African Media Partners Network

    *=A0*=A0*

    1. Objectives
    The decision to create an informal media donors' network was taken at a
    meeting held in Paris in December 1995, which brought together many =
    donors.
    The aim of this meeting was to enable the various donors to meet each =
    other
    and to initiate a mutual exchange of information. The participants =
    expressed
    the wish that these exchanges of ideas and information be followed up =
    by the
    creation of an informal network.

    The network's aims are as follows:
    * To allow donors to circulate information and exchange news
    concerning strategies and aid schemes being implemented for the benefit =
    of
    African media.
    * To stimulate collective debate and the exchange of ideas and
    practices regarding innovative ways of providing support.
    * To facilitate the implementation of certain joint pilot projects.

    The network currently has approximately thirty members. Above all, it =
    is a
    forum for debate and communication. It does not seek to unite donors =
    around
    one single strategy or to impose vast joint projects. On the contrary, =
    the
    diversity of approach constitutes both a richness and an accepted =
    reality.
    The network enables donors to manage this diversity more efficiently by
    avoiding redundant or contradictory action, and by enhancing each =
    member's
    awareness of developments within the sector and the various types of
    intervention.

    2. The network's secretarial staff
    The network is organised by a flexible and small 'technical office', =
    based
    in Paris at the Gret. This office organises and simplifies the =
    network's
    activity, and deals with occasional requests from donors. It sends out
    information and ideas regarding support action for the African media. =
    The
    staff are also engaged in identifying active donors in this sector (cf.
    membership list).
    Communication between donors is achieved by means of a newsletter, wich =
    also
    contains space for reflection about donors' projects and the tendencies
    observed within the sector.
    A virtual forum is planned for 1998, in order that donors may =
    communicate in
    a more open and interactive manner in between meetings. The network =
    already
    has an electronic mail address: reseaumedia@gret.org

    3. The network's activities
    * Identification and mobilisation of donors active in this field
    The secretarial staff continues to identify new donors active in the =
    field
    of African media.

    * Organisation and circulation of information
    The office collects information about donors' activities and sends out =
    this
    news in a summarised, structured format, to other members of the =
    network.

    * Question and answer service (all enquiries welcome)

    * Newsletter
    A network newsletter is sent out to partners to inform them of new =
    support
    projects and of the major tendencies within the sector of African =
    media.

    * Internet site
    For the communication of information and a continuous, direct exchange =
    of
    ideas, the network's own Internet page will soon be in operation.

    * Studies and Evaluations: reception, editing and production of
    summaries
    The office centralises reports and studies carried out on support =
    programmes
    for the African media, in addition to documentation on the various =
    partners
    and associate structures active in this sector. It edits such documents =
    and
    sends them out.

    * Organisation of meetings between partners
    Three other meetings have taken place since the meeting in Paris =
    (December
    1995). Each time, new participants have been welcomed: in Brussels, on =
    the
    invitation of the European Commission (24th-25th June 1996), in =
    Copenhagen,
    on the invitation of the Danish ministry of Foreign Affairs, (5th-7th =
    May
    1997), and then in Bellagio, on the invitation of the Rockefeller =
    Foundation
    (22nd-26th September 1997).

    * Organisation of working groups
    Small working groups, limited to partners who are specifically =
    concerned
    with certain issues (chosen by the partners) have been set up and are =
    run by
    the office=A0:
    - the first working group met at the beginning of March, to address
    the subject of forming a network to link African communications =
    regulating
    authorities. This was a preparatory meeting before the Conference on =
    African
    Communications Regulating Authorities - the Circaf;
    - a second working group has been created to deal with questions
    relating to audiovisual production. The next meeting is planned for
    November;
    - a third group is working on questions of methodology for
    intervention in the field of training.

    Joint activities may result from these working groups.

    * Support for the creation of joint initiatives. Provision of joint
    equipment
    - A plan to support and give new direction to the Cierro is being
    elaborated. Partners wishing to support this venture met in Paris on =
    16th
    January, and the centre's director was also present.
    - A plan to draw up a common set of guidelines for training ventures
    is currently being adopted by the partners, based upon criteria laid =
    down by
    partners present in Bellagio.
    - An exploratory study will be carried out, at the request of several
    partners, in order to determine a scale of measurement for evaluating
    training schemes, in particular, and, more broadly, media support
    programmes.
    - Means of raising local support funds for written and radio
    production will also be considered by a group which will gather =
    information,
    summarise it, and make proposals on this basis.

    List of the main members of the network=20

    BILATERAL DONORS
    Agence de coop=E9ration et de d=E9veloppement international (Canada)
    Austrian Development Cooperation (Autriche)
    Bundesministerium f=FCr wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit (Allemagne)
    Communaut=E9 fran=E7aise de Belgique (Belgique)
    CRDI (Canada)
    DANIDA (Danemark)
    FINNIDA (Finlande)
    Instituto da Coopera=E7=E3o (Portugal)
    Minist=E8re des affaires =E9trang=E8res - Coop=E9ration et Francophonie =
    (France)
    Minist=E8re des Affaires =E9trang=E8res (Luxembourg)
    Minist=E8re du d=E9veloppement et de la coop=E9ration (Suisse)
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pays-Bas)
    Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD - Norv=E8ge)
    Overseas Department Administration (Grande-Bretagne)
    Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA - Su=E8de)
    US Agency for International Development (USAID)

    MULTILATERAL DONORS
    Agence de la Francophonie
    Banque mondiale
    Commission Europ=E9enne
    Commonwealth Fund for technical cooperation
    UNESCO=20

    FOUNDATIONS
    Fondation Friedrich Ebert (Allemagne)
    Ford Foundation (USA)
    Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (Allemagne)
    Hans Seidel Stiftung (Allemagne)
    Heinrich-B=F6ll Stiftung (Allemagne)
    Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Allemagne)
    Open Society Foundation (Afrique du Sud)
    The Rockefeller Foundation (USA
    Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Grande-Bretagne)

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