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Key note speaker consideration

4 comments

This thread provides the Steering Committee with the space to suggest, consider and possibly decide the keynote speakers for the SBCC Summit in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

Preliminary Criteria for Identification of Potential Keynote Speakers for the 2018 SBCC Summit

1.    Has made or the potential to make a groundbreaking / major contribution to development and SBCC
2.    Can draw a crowd
3.    Is dynamic
4.    A diversity of speakers – geographic, funders, private sector, pubic sector
5.    Preference to southern women
6.    Active in the field/ front line

Comments

Submitted by sohailagha on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:58 Permalink

Interesting set of speakers.

I would love to learn more about the "Private Sector: Bata (Indian conglomerate) with strong advertising campaign using marginalization of girls".  This is not a recommendation for a speaker.

Thank you!

Sohail - Hi - this was first raised by James Deane (BBC Media Action). His note follows along with a response from Sue Goldstein at Soul City Institute for Social Justice. They can both add to their comments but wanted to quickly share the original input. Best - Warren

Original from James Deane 
 
The Tata Tea campaign in India seems very interesting (see links below).  I don’t know if the measurement of impact of this is in how much tea is sold or how gender norms have shifted but that seems an interesting conversation to have/question to ask.
 
My India colleagues have done a great deal of engagement with the private sector including organising a regular NEEDLE event.

Video: TATA TEA - ALARM BAJNE SE PEHLE JAAGO RE!

Guardian article: Can an advert for tea really change India's sexist attitudes?
 
 
James Deane
Director of Policy and Research

BBC Media Action

Comment from Sue Goldstein

I guess that this is actually how all ads should be – whether this has any impact in isolation is interesting, What I feel is that because of the weight of sexist adverts we as gender equality activists are fighting an uphill battle (a tadpole against a tsunami) however I guess these guys assist a bit in levelling the playing field. I’d love to see any data they have.

Susan GoldsteinProgramme and Research Director

Soul City Instute for Social Justice

The ads are really interesting (as was the one from Ariel detergent last year). In addition to looking at the impact they have on gender norms  (and sales of their product), before going too far down the road of sponsorship or inviting them to speak, I would like to know more about their internal gender policies, (not just the  # of women in senior management positions that the Guardian pointed out, which was good to know) ) how they treat women on their tea plantations and what their real commitment to gender equity and equality is beyond selling products. It raises all sorts of issues about taking sponsorship from companies that promote normative change/social good on the one hand but are doing something else in practice (which I know we are all aware of but feel we need to be especially careful about at the Summit). Either way, some discussion about what the role is/should be/can be of the commercial  sector in changing social norms and behavior,  guidelines for deciding how to work with them, when does the social good in terms of what they can do with their big  budgets through media (for example) outweigh  other actions they take/policies they have for employees that don’t support or contradict their external messages  etc. would be very interesting. Plus why do Indian companies seem to be doing some of the more interesting work in this space right now (at least from what I have seen and could be wrong about this).

Submitted by Warren Feek on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 13:03 Permalink

To: What Works Summit Steering Committee

Hi - following the last Steering Group meeting we have created this thread for Steering Group members to suggest possible keynote speakers. The criteria and a very initial brainstorm as compiled by Sue based on a very preliminary group-think are at this link. Please use the comments and reply processes to contribute. Or just reply to this email and we can post for you.

To get the ball rolling, I would like to suggest for your consideration and discussion Theo Sowa from Ghana who is presently Chief Executive Officer of the African Womens Development Fund

Theo's wikipedia entry gives the basic details. But just to note that she comes out of the communication and media for development field of work and still perceives a lot of her work from that perspective; has played a key role in a number of important development issues including children in conflict and gender rights; has experienced and helped to drive policy processes with people such as Stephen Lewis and Graca Machel; speaks very well - eg this Ted Talk (on the voice theme); has experience across the full range of development action - programmes, policy, advocacy, and on the board of a major funder.

Declaration: A good friend though sadly we have not been able to meet up for a while.

For your consideration - please do send your suggestions through this thread - Warren