The Life and Passion of Janet Narh
Janet trained in the Legal Profession in the UK, working in the legal sector for over ten years, specialising in Immigration, Employment and Family Law. Janet then went on to also work in the area of development, broadcasting and gender advocacy.
- Producer & Host – BEN TV Sky Channel 184 Woman's Hour
- Janet was the former Director of Programmes - OBE TV on Sky Channel 204-UK.
- Former Executive Producer of ‘TV Programme – TALK GHANA' broadcast on TV 3 (2000-2003)
- Financial Secretary of Africa Society Initiatives UK
- Co-producer and host of ‘Radio Programme – Ballot Box and Platform Africa’ on Radio Gold (Ghana) and GFM Radio (UK)
- Working for GFM, Radio, BBC, Radio Gold, Choice FM
Gender
Janet was a member of the committee that drafted the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa- Legal document on gender mainstreaming in the Africa Union now ratified by over 35 member states in Africa and domesticated by over 15 countries.
Janet sat on the African Gender Award Select Committee headed by the Pan African Parliament President, Hon. Gertrude Mongella. The African Gender Award (AGA) has been instituted in order to observe the initiatives and advancement of gender mainstreaming made by African Heads of States who adopted the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA).
The first edition of the AGA in 2005, celebrated President Wade of Senegal and President Mbeki of South Africa, in celebration of their work towards gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the African Union. The 2007 edition celebrated the exceptional achievements of President Kagame who integrated women into Rwanda’s policy making institutions, demonstrated by a series of political and legislative reforms.
Janet also headed the Scientific Committee and Facilitated the 2nd Edition of the African Gender Forum 2007 on “African Women for Africa's Development: Building Partnerships with the Diaspora” in Dakar, Senegal, from 10th-12th December 2007, organised by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and its Pan African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development with the collaboration of the Minister of Family, Female Entrepreneurship and Micro-Finance of the Republic of Senegal
Working for African Migrant Women's rights
Since 2004, Janet has been working extensively with African migrant women for development in Africa. With experience in the following areas:
- Monitoring and evaluation of educational and skills based programmes by host countries for women migrants;
- Creation of ‘gender specific centres’ in countries of origin for returning women migrants (providing expert advice on employment; investment, micro-finance and psycho-social assistance);
- Creation of micro finance schemes through the effective use of remittances;
- Advocacy at regional and international level (e.g. promoting the creation of incentives by African Governments to attract women returnees);
- Capacity building of new returnees (e.g. for acquiring business knowledge, sharing experiences and transfer of skills for development purposes);
- Media outreach and documentation of best practices.
- Integrating a gender perspective into every level of migration forum – with special attention to policy, research, implementation
Broadcasting
Broadcaster and Producer -BEN TV (sky channel 184).
Janet produced and hosted a daily programme - News Punch, a controversial news programme covering daily news bulletins. A stimulating programme on current affairs reaching 150 million viewers across UK, Europe and Africa.
Woman’s Hour on Ben TV Sky Channel 184, produced by Janet, a weekly programme which addresses issues affecting African migrant women. Empowers, engages and builds the capacity of African women enabling them integrate in host countries and also contribute positively to development in Africa. Coverage of this programme extends to UK and Europe and reaches over 30 million viewers.
Janet produced documentaries working with established organisations such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UN, African Embassies in the UK, BBC, Ghana, Ethiopian, Mali and Nigerian National TV Stations.
Interviews
Interviews with special guests, most recently with- Vice President of Ghana in Addis Ababa at the AU Summit 2009, UNECA Executive Secretary-UNECA Mr Abdul Janneh, H.E Graca Machel-Wife of Nelson Mandela, Former President Kuffour of Ghana, President of Mali-Ahmadou Toumani Toure, President of Liberia- H.E Ellen Johnson, Foreign Affairs Minister of South Africa- Mrs Zuma and numerous Minsters of State across the African Continent including African Ambassadors in the UK.
UK- Notably, Ministers Hon, Tony Benn, Minister Ed Milliband, Minister Gillian Merron (DFID), and many more.
Development
President of Africa women’s forum in the UK-Coordinating conferences on the theme- “Mobilizing African Women in the Diaspora for Development: Creating a movement for development & technology, health and human rights -” 7th November 2008 in London building on the first consultation in 2006 organised by Ben TV and the Mayor of London
Janet worked with various organisations on migration for development including:
- IOM
- UNDP
- European Union (EU)
- Diasporan Touch
- African Union and the NEPAD
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- Government of Spain
- Government of Italy
- Government of Portugal