Empowering Women Journalists: A Training Initiative for Climate Change Reporting in Africa
The ECA and PACJA are offering a two-week online training course for African women journalists focused on climate change reporting. The objective is to enhance the capacity of female reporters by providing essential skills and knowledge related to climate science, governance, and gender perspectives. The program aims to empower participants to produce impactful journalism, thus promoting greater climate change awareness and policy integration across the continent.
The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), in collaboration with its partners, is actively promoting climate change awareness throughout Africa. A significant initiative was a training event in 2016 aimed at mainstreaming climate information into legislative frameworks. This included the creation of a self-paced online learning module that trained civil society members, journalists, and agricultural experts across several African nations. Over 6,000 individuals have completed this module, highlighting the growing need for enhanced climate reporting skills. The media plays a pivotal role in disseminating climate-related knowledge, thereby influencing public understanding and effective policy-making. Enhancing the capabilities of women journalists in this domain is vital, given the disproportionate effects of climate change on women and marginalized groups. Therefore, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is offering a two-week online training program targeted at female climate change reporters, focusing on essential knowledge and skills for impactful journalism in this critical field. The training will cover various aspects, including understanding climate science, climate governance, and gender issues relating to climate change. Participants will engage in collaborative learning and gain hands-on experience in investigative journalism focused on climate change. The course emphasizes clear communication techniques and effective use of various media channels to reach diverse audiences. Open to women journalists across Africa, the course offers flexible registration up until the deadline through the IDEP online platform. This initiative, emphasizing the empowerment of qualified female journalists, aims to cultivate a new generation of climate change reporters equipped to inform and engage local communities.
The initiative undertaken by the ACPC is crucial in addressing the lack of climate change reporting skills in Africa, where many regions are significantly impacted by extreme weather events. The collaboration with UNCC: Learn led to the development of educational resources aimed at improving climate information dissemination through media. The ongoing need for trained media professionals who can adeptly communicate the complexities of climate change highlights the importance of this training program for female journalists across the continent.
The ECA and PACJA’s training program for women journalists is a timely and necessary response to the increasing vulnerabilities posed by climate change across Africa. By equipping female reporters with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address these issues, the program aims to foster more informed communities and contribute to the integration of climate policies into development planning. Ultimately, this training will enhance the capacity of women journalists to report on critical climate issues, fostering collaboration and innovative storytelling.
Original Source: www.uneca.org
