| After Dakar (August 2022), The Water Diplomat and Africa 21, in partnership with Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA), organized a workshop in Nairobi for East African journalists on water issues. From January 30th to February 3rd, the Concord Hotel hosted a meeting that brought together 30 journalists from Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia) to increase awareness and strengthen capacities on water-related issues on the African continent. The meeting was organized ahead of the United Nations Conference on Water, which will occur from March 22nd to 24th, 2023, in the UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting provided a platform for journalists to interact with water experts and policymakers from a range of organizations, including the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations-Habitat (UN-Habitat), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Global Water Partnership (GWP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). These experts provided valuable insights into the water-related challenges facing Africa and the role that international organizations can play in addressing these challenges. They also shared their experiences and best practices in water management and discussed the need for integrated, sustainable water management solutions that consider economic and social factors. |
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The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including water scarcity, access to safe drinking water, water management, and the impact of climate change on water resources. In addition to the interactive discussions and workshops, the meeting also included field visits to Limuru Water and Sewerage Company, Ndakaini Dam, and Susumua Dam. These visits provided the journalists with first-hand insights into the challenges and opportunities facing water management in Eastern Africa and the potential solutions being implemented to address these challenges. The field visits allowed journalists to see the positive impact that proper water management can have on local communities and better understand the challenges water companies face in providing safe drinking water and sanitation to residents. The visits also provided the journalists with a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of water management, such as dam design, water treatment processes, and water distribution systems. |
| The journalists were also introduced to various tools and techniques for reporting water-related issues, including data journalism, investigative journalism, and multimedia storytelling. They were also allowed to participate in hands-on workshops to apply the skills and techniques they learned to real-world situations. The meeting concluded with the journalists presenting their own water-related stories they had developed during the meeting. The presentations demonstrated the journalists’ commitment to raising awareness and providing in-depth analysis of water-related issues in Eastern Africa. The Eastern Africa Journalists’ Meeting on Water-related Issues was a highly successful event, providing a platform for journalists to enhance their knowledge and skills and engage with key stakeholders in the water sector. The meeting was also an opportunity for journalists to network and collaborate and to build a community of reporters committed to advancing the cause of water in Africa. Overall, the meeting was a valuable learning opportunity for the journalists and provided a platform for them to engage with leading water sector experts and build their capacities as water reporters. The knowledge and skills gained at the meeting will be valuable in ensuring that the media in Eastern Africa is equipped to report on water-related issues comprehensively, accurately, and impactfully. Call for Partners to Sponsor Journalists to the World Water Week 2023 Following the recent workshop on water-related topics for selected journalists from Eastern Africa, held from January 30th to February 3rd at the Concord Hotel, our partnership, comprising Africa21, The Water Diplomat, and MESHA at this moment calls upon development partners to sponsor a few journalists to attend the UN Water Conference 2023. The meeting informed, raised awareness, and strengthened the journalists’ analytical capacities on water-related issues on the African continent. The beneficiaries have now been trained in water journalism, including data journalism, investigative journalism, and multimedia storytelling. Their attendance at the UN Water Conference 2023, which will be held from March 22nd to March 24th in New York, will be invaluable in ensuring that the media in Eastern Africa is equipped to report on water-related issues in a comprehensive, accurate, and impactful way. Sponsoring the journalists at the Conference is an excellent opportunity of taking the various conversations we had in Nairobi to the next level. This conference is a major international event that brings water experts, policymakers, and stakeholders worldwide to discuss the pressing water-related challenges facing our planet. In a nutshell, sponsoring a journalist to attend the UN Water Conference 2023 will provide an invaluable opportunity for the journalist to Enhance their knowledge and understanding of water-related issues and their impact on African communities. Network with water experts and policymakers worldwide and discuss the latest developments in the water sector. Report on the key outcomes and recommendations from the UN Water Conference 2023, which will help raise public awareness and inform policy decisions. We believe that supporting the participation of journalists in attending and reporting to the UN Water Conference 2023 will positively impact water writing in Africa. Besides, it will contribute to the sustainable development of the region. Don’t hesitate to contact the organizer if you are interested in sponsoring a journalist to attend the UN Water Conference 2023. We would be happy to provide more information and answer any questions. Contact persons Julien Chambolle, Secretary General of Africa 21 and Coordinator of the Network of African Journalists specializing in Sustainable development and Climate change +41.77.493.18.37 julien.chambolle@africa21.org Tobias Schmitz, Editor, The Water Diplomat +31.62.076.74.64 tobias.schmitz@waterdiplomat.org Aghan Daniel, Secretary/CEO, Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) +254.77.532.76.35 aghan@meshascience.org |
| Association Africa 21 C/o Maison Kultura Rue des Savoises 15 1205 Genève, Suisse www.africa21.org |
