Fahamu
Encyclopedia
Fahamu is a not-for-profit organisation committed to serving the needs of organisations and social movements that inspire progressive social change and promote and protect human rights. It has played a pioneering role in using new information and communication technologies to support capacity building and networking between civil society and human rights organisations. Fahamu has offices in the UK, South Africa, Senegal and Kenya. Fahamu's core tools to build capacity and engage civil and human rights organisations are the publication of Pambazuka News (on-line news and interaction on social justice and development), on-line distance learning courses on human rights and social justice and the application of new technologies such as SMS for information dissemination, lobbying and interaction purposes.
as F15/2006. Fahamu Trust was registered as a charity in the UK (no. 1100304) in July 2003, with the following objectives: ‘the advancement of education of the public world wide by the publication of electronic newsletters, courses and disseminating of information on human rights’. Fahamu SA is registered as a trust in South Africa
IT 37201. In order to enable supporters in the USA to contribute to Fahamu’s work, Fahamu was established in 2005 as a Global Support Fund of the Tides Foundation, a duly registered public charity, exempt from US Federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
and social justice
movements by:
, an open-access, pan-African email and online newsletter with English, French and Portuguese editions, some 15,000 subscribers and an estimated weekly readership of around 500,000, is generated predominantly in Africa. The 300th issue was published in 2007.
Pambazuka broadcasts feature audio and visual content with commentary and debate from social justice movements across the continent.
Fahamu produces a series of special reports, some of which are published in Pambazuka News, and some of which are made available as separate downloadable documents from the Pambazuka website.
In May 2005, Fahamu established the African Union Monitor. This website and associated electronic mailing list aims to strengthen the ability of civil society organisations to engage constructively with the African Union
(AU) and its organs in the interests of promoting justice, equity and accountability through the provision of high-quality and timely information.
, Cape Town
, Dakar
, and Oxford
, Pambazuka Press (formerly Fahamu Books) publishes a growing list of book titles on human rights, social justice, politics and advocacy in Africa, written by well-known African academics, public intellectuals and activists.
Fahamu also publish training materials on CD-ROMs to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in Africa to promote and protect human rights and to help them become sustainable and effective organisations.
A number of these CD-ROMs are also available as tutored, online courses from Fahamu.
In publishing, Fahamu has partnered with Food First
, Grassroots International, Focus on the Global South
, Mkuki na nyota, Oozebap, the South Centre
and SOAWR
.
Fahamu provides training to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in Africa to promote and protect human rights and to help them become sustainable and effective organisations.
In the teaching of courses, Fahamu works with, amongst others, the University of Oxford
and MIT. “It is our pleasure to work with you in this important international effort, an undertaking enriched by the fine educational content of Fahamu.” Anne H Margulies, executive director, MIT OpenCourseWare
As Kenya was plunged into violence following the contested elections in December 2007, Fahamu sought to support independent, progressive voices in Kenya. Fahamu became actively engaged in the Kenyans for Peace through Truth and Justice coalition. In particular, Fahamu-Kenya became involved in the Direct Action Training workshops initiated by activist and artist Shailja Patel in April 2008. With the support of a New Tactics in Human Rights
grant, Fahamu-Kenya is now collaborating with Bunge la Mwananchi (the people's parliament) to train grassroots activists on effective advocacy with the aim of supporting them to lead similar workshops in local communities.
In collaboration with the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET
), Fahamu has established a collaborative network of community radio stations, radio journalists and cartoonists to develop a range of radio plays, current affairs broadcasts and the publication of cartoon books on the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, which will be disseminated in west and east Africa (in the first instance).
Fahamu has used innovative technologies, including SMS (text messaging by mobile phone) as a means of promoting public awareness of social justice issues in Africa. The use of these technologies has been particularly appropriate given the spread of mobile technology on the African continent and the fact that, as communications devices, they have leapfrogged non-existent telephony infrastructure, opening up the potential for communicating with new audiences.
African Books Collective
Article 19
Association for the Prevention of Torture
China Development Brief
Development in Practice
Editorial Nordan-Comunidad
Equality Now
EQUINET – Network on equity in Health in Southern Africa
Focus on the Global South
Gaza Community Mental Healthcare Programme
International Development Research Centre
IDRC Books
Just Associates (JASS) Kabissa
Mazingira Institute
Nigerian National Human Rights Commission
Open CourseWare Consortium
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
PAMONET
Penal reform International (Malawi)
SOAWR
Tactical Technology Collective
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
The Directory of Social Change
Media Institute of Southern Africa
(MISA)
Training and Research Support Centre
University for Peace Africa Programme
WITNESS
Details
Fahamu was established in the UK in 1997. Fahamu Ltd was registered and incorporated as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee in 2001 (no. 4241054). Fahamu Ltd is registered in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
as F15/2006. Fahamu Trust was registered as a charity in the UK (no. 1100304) in July 2003, with the following objectives: ‘the advancement of education of the public world wide by the publication of electronic newsletters, courses and disseminating of information on human rights’. Fahamu SA is registered as a trust in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
IT 37201. In order to enable supporters in the USA to contribute to Fahamu’s work, Fahamu was established in 2005 as a Global Support Fund of the Tides Foundation, a duly registered public charity, exempt from US Federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Mission statement
Fahamu supports the strengthening of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
movements by:
- promoting innovative use of information and communications technologies
- stimulating debate, discussion and analyses
- publishing news and information
- developing and delivering educational courses, including by distance learning.
Strategy
Fahamu’s strategy over the coming years is to:- expand the forum for human rights and social justice in AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
- expand public awareness of human rights
- strengthen civil society organisations
- root Fahamu in Africa.
Communications and Education
In the ten years of its existence, Fahamu has made a significant contribution to media and freedom of expression in Africa, using information and communications technologies.Newsletters
Fahamu’s flagship publication, Pambazuka NewsPambazuka News
Pambazuka News , published by Fahamu since 2000, is a pan-African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa providing: contemporary commentary and in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs development, human rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa...
, an open-access, pan-African email and online newsletter with English, French and Portuguese editions, some 15,000 subscribers and an estimated weekly readership of around 500,000, is generated predominantly in Africa. The 300th issue was published in 2007.
Pambazuka broadcasts feature audio and visual content with commentary and debate from social justice movements across the continent.
Fahamu produces a series of special reports, some of which are published in Pambazuka News, and some of which are made available as separate downloadable documents from the Pambazuka website.
In May 2005, Fahamu established the African Union Monitor. This website and associated electronic mailing list aims to strengthen the ability of civil society organisations to engage constructively with the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
(AU) and its organs in the interests of promoting justice, equity and accountability through the provision of high-quality and timely information.
Fahamu Books and Pambazuka Press
With bases in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Pambazuka Press (formerly Fahamu Books) publishes a growing list of book titles on human rights, social justice, politics and advocacy in Africa, written by well-known African academics, public intellectuals and activists.
Fahamu also publish training materials on CD-ROMs to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in Africa to promote and protect human rights and to help them become sustainable and effective organisations.
A number of these CD-ROMs are also available as tutored, online courses from Fahamu.
In publishing, Fahamu has partnered with Food First
Food First
Food First, also known as the Institute for Food and Development Policy, is a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, USA. Founded in 1975 by Frances Moore Lappé and Joseph Collins, it describes itself as a "people's think tank and education-for-action center".Its mission is “to...
, Grassroots International, Focus on the Global South
Focus on the Global South
Focus on the Global South is an international, non-governmental organisation, based in Bangkok, Thailand since its creation in 1995.Its founding director is sociologist Walden Bello, and it is affiliated with the Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University...
, Mkuki na nyota, Oozebap, the South Centre
South Centre (organization)
South Centre is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries, established by an intergovernmental Agreement , which came into force on 31 July 1995, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland...
and SOAWR
SOAWR
Solidarity for African Women’s Rights was inaugurated in 2004 as a regional network of more than 20 civil society organizations working on the issue of women’s rights...
.
Select Titles
- No Land! No House! No Vote! Voices from Symphony Way, by the Symphony Way Pavement DwellersSymphony Way Pavement DwellersSymphony Way Informal Settlement is a small community of pavement dwellers that have been living on Symphony Way, a main road in Delft, South Africa, since February 2008...
(2011) - Chinese and African Perspectives on China in Africa, Axel Harneit-Sievers, Stephen Marks, Sanusha Naidu (eds) (2010)
- SMS Uprisings: Mobile Phone Activism in Africa, Sokari Ekine (ed) (2010)
- The Crash of International Finance-Capital and its Implications for the Third World, Dani Wadada Nabudere (2009)
- Aid to Africa: redeemer or Coloniser? Hakima Abbas, Yves Niyiragira (eds) (2009)
- Food Rebellions! Crisis and the Hunger for Justice, Eric Holt GiménezEric Holt GiménezEric Holt Giménez is an agroecologist, political economist, lecturer and author. From 1975-2002 he worked in Mexico, Central America, and South Africa in sustainable agricultural development. During this time he helped to start the Campesino a Campesino Movement. He returned to the U.S. twice...
, Raj PatelRaj PatelRaj Patel is a British-born American academic, journalist, activist and writer who has lived and worked in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United States for extended periods. He is best known for his 2008 book, Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System...
(2009) - Where is Uhuru? Reflections on the Struggle for Democracy in Africa, Issa G. ShivjiIssa G. ShivjiIssa G. Shivji is an author and academic, and one of Africa's leading experts on law and development issues. He has taught and worked in universities all over the world. He is a prolific writer and researcher, producing books, monographs and articles, as well as a weekly column printed in national...
(2009) - Ending Aid Dependence, Yash TandonYash TandonYashpal Tandon is a Ugandan policymaker, political activist, professor, author and public intellectual. He has lectured extensively in the areas of International Relations and Political Economy. He was deeply involved in the struggle against the dictatorship of Idi Amin in 1970's Uganda and has...
(2008) - China’s New Role in Africa and the South, Edited by Dorothy Guerrero, Firoze Manji (2008)
- Africa’s Long Road to Rights/ Long trajet de l’Afrique vers les Droits, Edited by Hakima Abbas (2008)
- Silences in NGO Discourse: The Role and Future of NGOs in Africa, Issa G. Shivji (2007)
Fahamu courses
As part of its mission to build the capacity of African human rights and social justice movements, Fahamu develops training materials and runs courses, including by distance learning.Fahamu provides training to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in Africa to promote and protect human rights and to help them become sustainable and effective organisations.
In the teaching of courses, Fahamu works with, amongst others, the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and MIT. “It is our pleasure to work with you in this important international effort, an undertaking enriched by the fine educational content of Fahamu.” Anne H Margulies, executive director, MIT OpenCourseWare
Advocacy
Fahamu joined Solidarity with African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), a collation of 30 women’s and international organisations, in 2004 to promote the ratification of the African Union’s Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. Fahamu offered the pages of Pambazuka News and technological support to the coalition to raise public awareness about the protocol across the continent and to help women bring pressure on their governments to adopt the protocol. Within 15 months, the campaign had succeeded: 15 countries had ratified the protocol, enabling it to come into force across Africa.As Kenya was plunged into violence following the contested elections in December 2007, Fahamu sought to support independent, progressive voices in Kenya. Fahamu became actively engaged in the Kenyans for Peace through Truth and Justice coalition. In particular, Fahamu-Kenya became involved in the Direct Action Training workshops initiated by activist and artist Shailja Patel in April 2008. With the support of a New Tactics in Human Rights
New Tactics in Human Rights
What is the New Tactics in Human Rights Project?Since 1999, the New Tactics in Human Rights project has created unique resources—organized around analysis of potential solutions rather than that of specific issues, geographic regions or target groups—that allow activists to clearly recognize the...
grant, Fahamu-Kenya is now collaborating with Bunge la Mwananchi (the people's parliament) to train grassroots activists on effective advocacy with the aim of supporting them to lead similar workshops in local communities.
In collaboration with the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET
FEMNET
FEMNET, also called the African Women's Development and Communication Network, is an organization established in 1998 to promote women's development in Africa....
), Fahamu has established a collaborative network of community radio stations, radio journalists and cartoonists to develop a range of radio plays, current affairs broadcasts and the publication of cartoon books on the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, which will be disseminated in west and east Africa (in the first instance).
Fahamu has used innovative technologies, including SMS (text messaging by mobile phone) as a means of promoting public awareness of social justice issues in Africa. The use of these technologies has been particularly appropriate given the spread of mobile technology on the African continent and the fact that, as communications devices, they have leapfrogged non-existent telephony infrastructure, opening up the potential for communicating with new audiences.
Awards
- Politics Online 2005,2006,2007,2008 (voted one of the top ten websites in the annual 'Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics')
- Tech Museum Award 2005 (Fahamu was one of five Tech Laureates in the Microsoft Education category.)
- Highway Africa 2005 (Pambazuka News won the non-profit category for the innovative use of new media.)
- GenARDIS 2005 (Fahamu South Africa was one of the 10 winners of the Gender and Agriculture in the Information Society (GenARDIS) Award.)
- Prix Ars ElectronicaPrix Ars ElectronicaThe Prix Ars Electronica is one of the most important yearly prizes in the field of electronic and interactive art, computer animation, digital culture and music...
Awards 2005 (honorary mention) - AOL Innovations in the community Award 2004
- Stockholm Challenge 2004 (runner up for the development of distance learning courses for human rights organisations.)
Partners
AFFORDAfrican Books Collective
Article 19
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is a London-based human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide...
Association for the Prevention of Torture
Association for the Prevention of Torture
The Association for the Prevention of Torture is an international non-governmental organisation focused on the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment...
China Development Brief
Development in Practice
Editorial Nordan-Comunidad
Equality Now
Equality Now
Equality Now is a non-governmental organization founded in 1992 whose stated purpose is to protect the human rights of women around the world. The group provides an international framework for spreading awareness of issues and providing support to local grassroots groups working to address issues...
EQUINET – Network on equity in Health in Southern Africa
Focus on the Global South
Gaza Community Mental Healthcare Programme
International Development Research Centre
International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
IDRC Books
Just Associates (JASS) Kabissa
Mazingira Institute
Nigerian National Human Rights Commission
Open CourseWare Consortium
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education is a department within the University of Oxford that caters mainly for part-time and mature students. It is located at Rewley House, Wellington Square, Oxford, England....
PAMONET
Penal reform International (Malawi)
SOAWR
Tactical Technology Collective
Tactical Technology Collective
The Tactical Technology Collective is an international nongovernmental organization that trains rights advocates to deploy "information and communications technologies - social media tools, mobile phones, digital security and information design." It works with groups in "developing and transition...
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
The Directory of Social Change
Media Institute of Southern Africa
Media Institute of Southern Africa
The Media Institute of Southern Africa is a non-governmental organisation with members in 11 of the Southern Africa Development Community countries. Officially launched in September 1992, MISA focuses primarily on the need to promote free, independent and pluralistic media....
(MISA)
Training and Research Support Centre
University for Peace Africa Programme
WITNESS
Witness (human rights group)
WITNESS is a human rights non-profit organization based out of Brooklyn, NY. Their mission statement is "WITNESS uses video to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations...