EASSI will employ a number of strategies, which are in keeping with the essence of advancing the issues on BPFA while making the linkages with MDGs and PRSPs as well as straddling CEDAW. The strategies are also based on EASSI’s strength and mandate.
EASSI’s role is meant to be facilitative and not direct implementation of programmes. In order to realize this, EASSI will employ four main strategies namely Research & Documentation, Advocacy, Networking & Information Sharing, and Capacity Building.

Research and Documentation

Research will enhance EASSI’s authority on the issues it has chosen to focus on so that it always speaks from a position of knowledge and sound information. The findings will be documented to inform all programme areas and infused into the other strategies described below.

But documentation transcends the research function and pervades all activities that EASSI undertakes. It will ensure that EASSI progressively becomes a repository of reference information stored in multi-media for retrieval and use internally and by partners.

Advocacy

The advocacy strategy involves streamlining EASSI’s agenda along priority issues outlined and stimulating action within an African feminist perspective targeted at creating legislative and policy change beneficial to women. Such action will be pitched both at national and regional levels to impact on international, regional and national processes. Prime targets will be governments and regional bodies such as EAC, COMESA and the African Union including NEPAD.

In addition to specific advocacy activities, the advocacy strategy will have special anchoring events at sub-regional level. Such events will be part of a well worked out advocacy campaign and will be important tools to communicate EASSI’s focus, develop its brand, market its work and increase its influence. Such events will also create a more dynamic platform from which to broaden the involvement of the key players.

Networking and Information Sharing

A process will be initiated to bring key players on board and to identify ways of maximising the value of skills and capacities of other organisations and networks. EASSI will work with strategic partners on a consistent and documented basis using methods of collaboration and information sharing agreed upon.

Through this strategy, EASSI will build a strong alliance with like-minded organizations within the region and create a formidable voice in articulating women’s concerns. This involves generating debate and public engagement on topical issues, synthesizing issues that need to be shared with networks and alliances and demanding action by stakeholders charged with addressing women’s concerns.

Dissemination of critical information to partners at national and regional levels and gathering best practices will be a cornerstone activity.

Capacity Building

The main objective for this strategy is to ensure successful delivery of programmes and maintenance of the organization. This involves strengthening the Secretariat and EASSI members, focal points and partners thematically and intuitionally to be best placed to initiate and sustain action as well as respond to the changing realities.