Significant knowledge and empirical evidence is produced in technical assistance projects focusing on the practical implementation and innovation around environmental goods and services towards more circular production and trade systems. To enhance impact and knowledge related to applied circular economy projects under the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme, and to empower civil society audiences with knowledge to drive systemic change, UNCTAD and Africa 21 have decided to join forces to deliver capacity building and targeted training activities for journalists and communicators based in East and West Africa. The initiative is also co-sponsored by UNESCO.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness among African journalists of developments on the various sectors of the Circular Economy and in particular in plastics pollution mitigation efforts at the INC process and at the WTO dialogue on plastics. This aims to impart knowledge to improve the quality of their reporting and analysis towards national audiences, helping to build knowledge and understanding of other key stakeholders in the region, providing communicators with first hand contact with projects and authorities partnering with SMEP.
The capacity building activity, involving a competitive selection of attendees, intends to enable journalists to produce more knowledgeable and interesting reporting, disseminating knowledge materials to key stakeholders in civil society enabling them to make more informed decisions.
The main objective of the workshop training is to help strengthen capacities and understanding among journalists in the specific area of circular economy, particularly plastic pollution mitigation options and related multilateral processes, so that they have the knowledge and tools to produce better quality, more interesting and informative reporting towards national and regional audiences.
Another objective of the initiative is, by the improvement of reporting in national and regional press of these topics, to increase awareness and understanding of key stakeholders in East and West Africa on structural changes which are underway related to circular economy, so that these stakeholders are better informed and prepared to make institutional decisions on material transition, product passports, and alternative business models with lower environmental impact.
During the week of 6 to 10 November 2023, speakers and trainers from various international institutions will interact with the journalists. There will be collaborations with local organisations and site visits to bring to life what is being discussed.
This article was first published by UNCTAD
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This workshop is in hybrid format. If you are an African journalist, you speak English and this subject interests you, you can register to follow the online workshop at the email [email protected] by indicating in the title of the email “registration workshop CE Nairobi 2023″.
