TRAINING AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON THE ... - Fokus

findings were discussed, along with presentations by NKTF, GAMCOTRAP staff, and the President
of the Board; and there was a screening of one of GAMCOTRAP’s videos. The remainder of the day
was spent on a group discussion during which beneficiaries spoke about their experiences with the TV
project, and the NKTF representatives were able to ask follow-up questions (the evaluator was also able
to interview TANGO’s Director, who had not been available during the December visit).
Note: While the production of this report has been a truly collaborative effort, the evaluator naturally takes responsibility
for any errors or shortcomings.
Background to the project
The Feminist Action Group from the 1980s pioneered work on information campaigns regarding
FGM in hospitals, churches, and civil society in Norway. Anne Berit Stensaker (1930 - 2003), who was a
priest and member of the Norwegian Female Theologian Committee, Norsk Kvinnelig Teologforening
(NKTF), was engaged in work against female genital mutilation (FGM) from 1980. This commitment led
to a lot of information about both the work and the team, but this information was never systematized.
In 2004, some members of NKTF were involved in archiving this material. This work led to a contact
with Mette Bråthen Njie, who had received a scholarship to work on the theme of FGM. She is a trained
nurse with close relations to The Gambia, and had visited and brought back information about some
of GAMCOTRAP’s work and methods. After meeting with Mary Small at GAMCOTRAP, she was
impressed by the way they worked, but saw the lack of resources. NKTF also learned more through
meeting with Torild Skard, feminist and former UNICEF Regional Director for West Africa (1994-
1998), who knew of GAMCOTRAP’s work.
After further visits to The Gambia, NKTF in 2005 decided to apply for funding from a project
supported by the TV Action Campaign (through Norwegian TV) on ”Violence against Women,”
where one of the sub-topics was FGM (along with Women in Conflicts, Trafficking, and Violence in
Close Relationships). The TV project was that year dedicated to FOKUS (Forum for Women and
Development), where one NKTF member had previously worked.
Also in 2005, Dr. Isatou Touray was invited by FOKUS through NKTF, coordinated by Mildrid
Mikkelsen, to attend a TV-Campaign meeting in Norway. FOKUS previously knew about her work
through the Inter Africa Committee (IAC) and other NGOs. This visit made it possible for GAMCOTRAP
to present its work to the donor community in Norway with the hope of gaining support for its work
to eliminate FGM in The Gambia. It also created an opportunity for GAMCOTRAP to meet with its
partner organization, NKTF, to get to know each other and discuss the proposal to end FGM, which was
submitted to FOKUS. The Norwegian team consists of five women: Tone Marie Falch, Hanne Slåtten,
Yvonne Anderson, Caroline Revling Erichsen, and Mette Bråthen Njie. During the visit, Isatou Touray
presented the proposal to the team of women and it was discussed intensively and agreed upon.
Dr. Touray was made to understand from this visit and the meetings held between FOKUS/NKTF
and GAMCOTRAP that FOKUS gives support to countries by pairing local Norwegian organizations
with other existing NGOs abroad. The partnership was mutual and accepted by both NKTF and
GAMCOTRAP because their vision, mission, and objective resonate with each other. Having agreed to
work together, GAMCOTRAP’s proposal was accepted and NKTF was made responsible for facilitating
the project with support from FOKUS (FOKUS has no direct co-operation with GAMCOTRAP,
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