Africa 21 launches fund for climate journalists

At a time when Africa is experiencing unprecedented climate change, 74% of African journalists interviewd by Africa 21 Association believe they are unable to cover environmental challenges in decent conditions. 

These are the findings of a study published by the  Association, which calls on the international community to create a funding mechanism to support the continent's journalists. 

Boris Ngounou (Radio Tiemeni Siantou and Environnementales, Cameroon) said ‘I have lost count of the number of investigative reports on the environment that I have had to abandon because of a lack of funds for transport and accommodation. Every year I apply for accreditation to cover the COP on climate change, which I get, but every time I have to give it up for lack of funds’.

Hadeer El Hadary (ESG Mena, Egypt) added that ‘It is essential to provide journalists with training on sustainable development and climate change in order to empower them and improve their work with the knowledge and tools they can have in this area’

In a survey of 150 journalists from 29 African countries conducted by Africa 21 between 10 and 13 May 2024, it emerged that the sector is in crisis and that environmental issues are particularly badly off. There is a lack of financial resources, but also a lack of training to deal with subjects that can quickly become very complex. 

In fact, 44% of the journalists questioned acknowledged a lack of technical expertise and understanding of the issues involved. Among the areas singled out for criticism were the management of chemical products, the challenges posed by the effects of climate change, and the links between trade, finance and the environment.      

And yet, 60% of the journalists questioned said that the public is interested, or even very interested, in these issues.

Aware of the importance of these challenges, since 2019 the Association Africa 21 has been building bridges between experts, international organisations and journalists benefiting from its programme. Each year it organises several workshops, webinars, conferences and delegations to help journalists develop core expertise and a network on topics as diverse as climate, biodiversity, water or the circular economy.

Building on its expertise in the field and considering the ever-increasing needs of the African journalist community, our NGO wishes to mobilise the international community working on Africa to involve it in the creation of a funding mechanism from which it will ultimately largely  benefit.

Our association is proposing the creation of a fund based on multi-year partnerships, managed by its secretariat, whose orientations and activities will be defined each year in a roadmap drawn up by a steering committee on which all the partners will be represented and will share their priorities.

Through this initiative, we hope that the members of the Network of African Journalists specialising in sustainable development and climate change (850 members in 43 countries today) will develop a solid, reusable base of expertise on the issues linked to the Paris Agreement and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on the ground.  Journalists need to be able to take part in major international events related to these issues, and to have access to first-hand, quality sources so that they can inform their audiences in an informed and educational way.

This is why we are calling on all those involved in international Geneva and beyond to come and join us in financing the mechanism that we wish to set up and to participate in the multi-year programme of activities that will be associated with it.

We therefore invite you to come and take part in the presentation of our study and the ensuing dialogue with leading figures from international Geneva, on Friday 11 October 2024, at 3pm, in the Salle de la Philatélie at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

To register: https://indico.un.org/event/1014009/