Entering the blogosphere

It seems strange to say hello to my computer, but I guess that's the first step to entering the blog world.
Besides, my freshly-bought conversation guide to Wolof tells me that "salutation is fundamental in human relationships in Senegal"
So I guess I should start to practice now.
Salaamaalekum!
Na ngeen def?
Naka waa kër ga?

In short, this meant "Hello! How are you?"
Still some work up front though... My native French should be sufficient most of the time, but I was told that in rural areas people may only speak Wolof.

I guess entering the blogosphere also means formally admitting one's virtual narcissism.
I think things should not be done half way. So this is me:

(This actually was shot in the artist JR's studio in Paris, in relation with his Inside-Out project - I'm a fan)
 

It is coming quickly now.
On June 2, I'll be landing in Dakar, for 10 weeks of internship with Oxfam America.
I will be working with the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, a project that helps poor, smallholder farmers become resilient to the impacts of climate change to improve their long-term food security and economic opportunities.  It is a holistic approach to rural development and climate adaptation that brings together innovative risk management strategies, through a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program and Swiss-Re, a major re-insurance company. I will work with the smallholder farmers and civil society organizations to ensure that the program is built upon the interests and needs of participants, and is designed and scaled in partnership with farmers and local organizations.  I will also work with local and national governments to ensure policies and regulations support the various components and are aligned with a long-term strategy of food security and rural development. In recognition that the majority of food producers in Africa are women, yet women own less than a quarter of the land, have less access to agricultural inputs, markets, and value chains than men, and are primarily responsible for keeping their families fed and healthy, the project targets women farmers, providing them the resources they need, and empowering them to be productive, rights-holding leaders of their communities. 

Here is a short video presenting the initiative.

I am really looking forward to it. It will be my first time working in Sub-Saharan Africa, after having spent almost 10 years between Europe and Latin America.
It will be also new to address gender issues on a rural context. For 7 years in Brazil, I worked in the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in disadvantaged urban areas, on the Tudo Bom Fair Trade textile project.
I have already been able to have several meetings with Oxfam, and the project seems well on its way!
Great webinar on Monday, on "The Evolution of Gender in Agricultural Research at IFPRI".

Thanks again to the lovely people at the Women and Public Policy Program and the generosity of the funders of the Cultural Bridge Fellowship!
I am really looking forward to the experience... D-17 now!

Demal ag jàmm!!


Thomas Favennec