AWiM, UNEP launch the African Environment Journalism Programme

The African Women in Media (AWiM), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is set to launch the African Environment Journalism Programme, underpinned by the African Green Stimulus Programme (AGSP).

AGSP is an innovative, African-led initiative focused on supporting the continent’s sustainable recovery from the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, AWiM is a global network of African women working in media industries which seeks to positively impact the way media functions in relation to women.

A press statement released by the media nonprofit on Monday in Lagos, Nigeria, said journalists and content producers were welcomed to pitch Africa-focused environmental stories adding that journalists eventually commissioned to produce stories under the Programme would have access to capacity building training.

Mohamed Atani, head of communication and outreach for Africa at UNEP, said engaging African media in the context of AGSP was an integral part of the continent’s environmental agenda and the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accordingly, called upon African women in the media to make environmental reporting a priority.

“Engaging African media to report on the environmental challenges and opportunities in the continent in the context of supporting the implementation of the African Green Stimulus Programme is crucial to move the African environmental agenda forward for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The role of African women journalists is of paramount importance to UNEP. We are pleased to be partnering with AWiM on this innovative and exciting initiative,” Atani was quoted to have said at the signing of the agreement with AWiM.

In her response, Dr Yemisi Akinbobola, AWiM’s co-founder cum CEO, described the African Environment Journalism Programme as “a timely and vital project” that would ensure women’s voices on environmental challenges  were not forgotten in Africa, against the backdrop of global conversations on the environment.

“We are at a critical period in our understanding and attempts to tackle important environmental issues globally. The voices of African women must not be missing in that global narrative, especially in the solutions and approaches to tackling these issues. We are pleased that UNEP is supporting women journalists and prioritising the reporting on how environmental issues impact African women through this programme,” Dr Akinbobola said.

The project whose pilot phase will run for six months aims to highlight the 12 elements or rather priority areas of AGSP. In addition, AWiM says it was inviting applications from potential media partners across all mediums (radio, TV, print and online) to have the opportunity to co-publish stories commissioned under this programme.