Winners of the third edition of the African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) awards have been announced in Aadis Ababa, Ethiopia in a colourful ceremony graced by representatives of the Africa Development Bank, various UN agencies, civil society representatives and representatives from different media organisations all over Africa.

In his opening remarks, James Murombedzi, the Officer in Charge at the UN Economic Centre for Africa (UNECA) said that the awards were a great initiative aimed at improving the African Narrative on Climate Change which is key in ensuring that climate change is given the human face with regard to vulnerabilities faced by the African people.

He noted that in developing countries, most journalists are generalists, and have little training in science or the environment – particularly complex areas such as climate change. While  many  journalists  and  Editors  may  be  interested  in  covering  climate  change issues,  competition for space with other topical issues such as politics combined with unwillingness of the commercial-oriented media owners makes up a huge obstacle.

“To overcome the climate information gap existing among stakeholders, deliberate effort should be made to simplify, demystify and effectively communicate climate change in a jargon that is widely embraced by all. It should not, however, end here,” said Murombedzi.

“Even if the climate change debate is simplified, a large proportion of rural populations in developing countries, especially those in Africa, are not able to read or write, even in their local languages. This calls for a strategy that makes vehicles for community outreach, which is the media, proactive participants in this regard,” he added.

Dr. Justus Kabyemera from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) noted that there is need to strengthen and unify the foundation of Africa’s common agenda for action as well as reshaping and refining the African Narrative on climate change discourse through robust application of home-grown solutions, initiatives and talents for sustainability.

“It is therefore important to devise strategies to bring journalists and media practitioners to the forefront, not as reporters, but as key partners and players in the ensuing engagements,”said Dr Kabyemera. “We appreciate Pan African Climate Justice Alliance for initiating a very innovative award scheme, ACCER Awards, which will indeed improve the African Narrative on Climate Change,” he added.

Mithika Mwenda, PACJA’s Secretary General said that the organisation will continue to play a catalytic role in nurturing innovative ideas necessary for the transformative society as we desire to effectively confront the main challenges of 21st century.

“These complex challenges, such as climate change, will require collaboration from various stakeholders to defeat. And that is the spirit the ACCER Awards exemplifies,” he said.

In the Print Media English category, Andrew Mambondiyani (Zimbabwe) was announced the winner with Mugerwa (Uganda) as the first runners up and Atayi Babs Opaluwah (Nigeria).In the Print Media French category, AddehMidadji Daniel (Togo) was announced the winner and Madafime Didier Hubert (Benin) as the 1st runners up.

In the Electronic Media English, TV English category,Mercy Adundo (Kenya) was announced the winner and Aaron YanchoKaah (Cameroon) as the first runners up. In the Electronic Media, Radio English category, Diana Wanyonyi was announced the winner and Ngala Killian Chimtom (Cameroon) as the first runners up.

In the Electronic Media French, TV French, ZainaKereKere (Democratic Republic of Congo) was announced the winner. In the Electronic Media, Radio French category,SuyKahofi (Ivory Coast)was announced the winner and Fousseni SAIBOU (Togo) as the second runners up.

The Judges noted that, few entries were received in the Photojournalism and therefore stressed the need for journalists to improve their reporting in this category. Nicodemus Kioko Kivandi (Kenya) was announced the only winner under this category.

Andrew Mambondiyani (Zimbabwe) was celebrated as the Overall winner with a story dubbed; summer, a season of suffering in Mozambique’s Beira. As part of the award package, he wasawarded USD 1000 and will be supported to participate in the upcoming 22nd Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change scheduled to take place on 7th – 18th November, 2016 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The award ceremony took place alongside the sixth session of the Climate Change and Development for Africa (CCDA) conference in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.