Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa

"Gender mainstreaming as strategy for peace building and state building process"

On Friday May 3, 2013, over 45 women leaders and gender experts from Togolese Civil Society Organisations and faith groups gathered at the Baptist High School of Theology in West Africa (ESBTAO), in Lomé, Togo under the auspicies of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa to hold its first "forum on Gender Mainstreaming in the New Deal as an inclusive Process. The forum is part of the National CSOs Platform for peace building and state building geared towards promoting state and society relationship in Togo.

Our faith compels us to feed the hungry and care for creation – and this we can do as individuals, as churches, and as global citizens! As a part of the churches’ mandate, in advocating for change in structures that cause poverty, violence and abuse of human rights, the churches in West Africa will join thousands of Christians all over the world in October to act and speak out together on food justice issues during the global Churches’ Week of action on food, from Sunday, October 13 to Sunday October 20, 2013.  

The global week of action is a time for churches to raise awareness about food production and distribution systems, examine our own food consumption, and call for policy changes that will ensure the right to adequate food for everyone. This year’s week of action will focus on “Seeds for Life”. We motivated by the fact that access and control over natural resources, including seeds, is an essential aspect of supporting small scale food producers, sustainable agriculture and ultimately, addressing hunger and poverty.

December 10, 2013, International Human Rights Day, a two day strategy planning meeting for national food campaign coordinators opens in the Togolese City of Lomé. The Vice President of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa, The Rev. Kadera, Bamerbanona in his welcome statement called on churches to take a center stage in the fight against food injustice in West Africa. He said that it was time for the churches to raise a united prophetic voice on issues affecting the sub – region.
In his introductory remarks, FECCIWA Secretary – General says “poverty in West Africa sub – region is unnecessary” and serves as an evil perpetrated against the people of the region. He frowned on governments' failure to address the everyday needs of the people in the Sub – region. Dr. Jallah argued that one of the basic Human Rights is the Right to Food which is at stake due to extreme poverty and hunger in a region of abundant natural resources. He further challenged African governments that cannot feed their population, but sit to see citizens suffer and die from malnutrition and hunger as a shame and disservice to their people.
The meeting is being facilitated by Senior International Expert on world food matters, Mrs. Angeline Munzara – Chawira, who is also Associate Director for Food and Livelihood Security at World Vision International based in Johannesburg, South Africa.