Communicating and campaigning as a group is critical to achieving a unified voice that amplifies the development goal. Practitioners of the media have an important role in reporting on and raising awareness of development concerns such as inclusive and sustainable economic growth, gender equality, human rights, and climate action.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Zimbabwe joined the UN family, senior government officials, development partners, and the country’s media fraternity in a workshop aimed at enhancing UN-media collaboration in articulating progress, challenges, and next steps in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs and the country’s Agenda 2030.
More than 60 participants attended the workshop, which included site visits to UN-supported initiatives in Manicaland from May 30 to June 3, 2022. After a week of cross-learning and experience sharing with members of the media, a Zimbabwe-UN media action plan based on storylines and development issues identified during the workshop was developed.
In response to climate change and a shift in media reporting, FAO stated that it is willing to work with the media to ensure that there is balanced reporting on FAO and UN livelihoods and food security programs in Zimbabwe. FAO urged the media, similarly to climate change, to adapt their reportage on development concerns in the country.
“FAO in Zimbabwe is committed to supporting formulation of the UN-media action plan as Co-chair of the planet pillar under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
The planet pillar focuses on environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resources management. In the context of reporting on development work especially on climate issues, change is the only constant, the climate is changing and so should the way the media report on it,” said Constance Pepukai, Assistant FAO Representative-Programmes speaking on behalf of Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative to Zimbabwe.
While citing the importance of the media in helping Zimbabwe achieve agenda 2030, the UN reassured media practitioners that it will continue to work with them through providing timely and well-researched climate adaptation publications.
“Media plays a critical role in engaging the public and shift negative or neutral attitudes towards appreciation of the dire climate crisis and the urgency for action. In this regard, the UN will continue to work with media through providing timely and well researched climate adaptation publications,” said Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe in his remarks officially opening the workshop.
The expected outcome of the planet pillar implementation under the UNSDCF is that all people in Zimbabwe, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized, benefit from greater environmental stability and robust food systems in support of healthy lives and equitable, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods by 2026. FAO was able to highlight its work under the planet pillar as well as some of its projects in the province.
“The workshop was an eye opener to most journalists. I realised we were not doing enough when it comes to development reporting.
There is need for us to have a deeper understanding of issues, projects and programmes to write balanced stories that inform and educate communities.
“Development stories should include the voices of the community, program beneficiaries, and how they feel about developments in their communities,” said Elita Chikwati, an agriculture writer with the Herald newspaper, reflecting on her workshop experiences and lessons.
“The 12 month UN-Media action will ensure follow-up of over 200 storylines identified along the 2022-2026 Zimbabwe UNSDCF pillars of people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnerships in support of Zimbabwe’s 2030 agenda and the achievement of the 17 SDGs,” said Sirak Gebrehiwot, the UN Communications Group Chairperson in his remarks as the one-week long workshop ended.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.