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1st Edition of the AUB Media Summit on Climate Change: 6th - 7th May 2024, Nairobi-Kenya
THEME:
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND EFFECTIVE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM:
AFRICAN MEDIA SOLUTIONS
6th-7th May 2024
Venue: Hotel Boulevard, Nairobi, Kenya
Concept Note
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR notes that climate change, population growth, unsustainable consumption, biodiversity loss, ecological degradation, disease outbreaks, food insecurity, political instability and conflict, financial instability and inequality, are driving risk and increasing vulnerability in development and humanitarian contexts across the world.
The shifting nature of risk requires a transition from treating hazards in isolation to recognizing the systemic nature of risk, where shocks often cascade and compound in complex ways with broad social, fiscal, economic and environmental implications.
Disaster risk reduction
Disaster risk reduction is aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development.
Disaster risk reduction is the policy objective of disaster risk management, and its goals and objectives are defined in disaster risk reduction strategies and plans.
A global, agreed policy of disaster risk reduction is set out in the United Nations endorsed Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted in March 2015, whose expected outcome over the next 15 years is: “The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries”.
Early warning systems
An integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication and preparedness activities systems and processes that enables individuals, communities, governments, businesses and others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of hazardous events.
Multi-hazard early warning systems address several hazards and/or impacts of similar or different type in contexts where hazardous events may occur alone, simultaneously, cascading or cumulatively over time, and taking into account the potential interrelated effects. A multi-hazard early warning system with the ability to warn of one or more hazards increases the efficiency and consistency of warnings through coordinated and compatible mechanisms and capacities, involving multiple disciplines for updated and accurate hazards identification and monitoring for multiple hazards.
Effective “end-to-end” and “people-centred” early warning systems may include four interrelated key elements:
(1) Disaster risk knowledge based on the systematic collection of data and disaster risk assessments;
(2) Detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible consequences;
(3) Dissemination and communication, by an official source, of authoritative, timely, accurate and actionable warnings and associated information on likelihood and impact; and
(4) Preparedness at all levels to respond to the warnings received.
The need to involve Media in the process
The unprecedented reach and power of media has not been utilised fully in Disaster Risk Reduction.
The main reasons for that are that:
- Generally, media houses are reactive in their attitude to disasters. When there is a disaster, media outlets compete but very soon they move to other stories until the next disaster.
- In many countries, media practitioners are not prepared to fulfil their crucial role in the DRR process. They lack the knowledge and skills to report on the complex issue sof DRR and climate change adaptation. In short – the ‘messenger” is not ready.
- In many broadcasters’ programme schedules there is no place for specialized programmes that highlight DRR issues, showcase international and national solutions and good practices and engage and serve people on the crucial DRR issues that affect their lives and livelihoods.
It is for this reason that the UNDRR and the World Broadcasting Union (WBU) decided to launch in 2020, the Media Saving lives initiative Project.
The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) under the WBU, has been working intensely with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) over the last 4 years on mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Coverage in the media in Africa within the framework of the World Broadcasting Union, WBU/UNDRR Media Saving Lives Initiative:
Its objectives are:
Overall Objective:
The overall objective of the project is to enhance broadcasters’ capacity to deliver timely and understandable Early Warnings and institutionalize DRR reporting in their programme schedules in order to educate audiences about disaster risk management and disaster prevention.
Main Objectives:
The project has three objectives:
STRENGTHEN the capacity of African broadcast media organizations to fulfil their role in the early warning chain of communications in their countries, so they can deliver timely, accurate and understandable early warning messages to wide audiences before, during and immediately after disasters.
EQUIP Radio and TV media outlets with the necessary disaster risk reduction and climate change skills, and knowledge about solutions, so they can disseminate disaster risk reduction solutions on broad range of topics such as floods, food, water security as well as educate people how to prepare to prevent natural hazards becoming disasters.
ENCOURAGE inter-regional collaboration between news production and documentary units to cover disaster risk reduction and adaptation issues and facilitate news exchange within and between the regions, so that a body of current, relevant programming content is available for syndication and sharing.
Expected Outcome:
- Engage at least 30 African broadcasting organizations in the project;
- Facilitate regular meetings/ updates between government agencies/Met Offices and Broadcast Media Management;
- Integrate the media in National platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction;
- Enhance Climate Change and adaptation Production and documentaries units in broadcast
media organizations;
- Foster sensitization on the local communities about climate change issues and disaster risk
reduction through the production of creative and compelling news and programme contents.
Beneficiaries of the project
During the past four years, more than 1 000 media practitioners from 33 African broadcasting organizations have been trained.
N° | Country | Broadcasting Organization | |
1. | Nigeria | Nigerian Television Authority, NTA | |
2. | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC | |
3. | Kenya | Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, KBC | |
4. | Uganda | Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, UBC | |
5. | Cameroon (French) | Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV (French) | |
6. | Cameroon (English) | Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV (English) | |
7. | Mauritius | Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, MBC | |
8. | Benin | Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, ORTB | |
9. | Senegal | Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise, RTS | |
10. | Guinea Conakry | Radio Télévision Guinéenne, RTG | |
11. | Comoros | Office de Radio et Télé des Comores, ORTC | |
12. | Ghana | Ghana Broadcasting Corporation | |
13. | Zambia | Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC | |
14. | Burkina Faso | Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina, RTB | |
15. | Niger | Office de la Radio et de la Télévision du Niger, ORTN | |
16. | Mali | Office de radiodiffusion et de télévision du Mali, ORTM | |
17. | Madagascar | Télévision Malagasy, TVM | |
18. | Togo | Télévision Togolaise, TVT | |
19. | Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, SLBC | |
20. | Malawi | Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, MBC | |
21. | Malawi | Association of community Radios | |
22. | Liberia | Liberia Broadcasting System, LBS | |
23. | Cote d’Ivoire | Radiodiffusion télévision ivoirienne, RTI | |
24. | Angola | Televisão Pública de Angola, TPA | |
25. | Rwanda | Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, RBA | |
26. | Namibia | Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC | |
27. | Democratic Republic of Congo | Radio Télévision nationale congolaise, RTNC | |
28. | Mozambique | Televisão de Moçambique, TVM | |
29. | Chad | Tchad 24 | |
30. | Gabon | Radio Télévision Gabonaise, RTG | |
31. | Tanzania | Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, TBC | |
32. | The Gambia | Gambia Radio & Television Services, GRTS | |
33. | Botswana | Botswana Television, BTV |
Out of these, 22 broadcasting organizations have been engaged in co-productions on floods, drought and early warning systems.
The AUB Inaugural Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction & effective Early Warning Systems: African media solutions.
The third key element for effective early warning systems which is the dissemination and communication of accurate and actionable information highlights the role of the media in disaster risk reduction.
It is widely acclaimed that although Africa contributes the least to climate change, it is often hit hardest by climate extremes with little or no support to buffer the impacts. The continent is inundated by extreme weather events including desertification, droughts, floods, biodiversity loss, pollution and conflicts caused mainly by the scramble for diminishing resources and sources of livelihoods.
As agents of mobilization, public education and awareness as well as social transformation, the media in Africa has crucial functions to perform in cascading DRR messages to people, especially in the grassroots to keep them informed about disasters; how to prevent, manage and adapt when the need arises.
Objectives of the AUB Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
This summit therefore seeks to:
- Make an in-depth examination of the challenges and the strides that are being made in the coverage of DRR in the African media;
- promote the role of the media in Africa in the dissemination of timely information to manage risks associated with disasters, especially those caused by the changing climate;
- Expose media practitioners to learn first-hand of climate action and disaster preparedness Stakeholder’s work;
- Promote the link between broadcasters and Disaster Risk Management Stakeholders;
- Build a network of journalists covering climate change, adaptation and disaster risks issues in Africa.
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Draft Agenda
Concept Note
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