ADDIS Ababa, Ethiopia (PAMACC News) - As the sixth session of the Climate Change and Development for Africa (CCDA_CI) came to a close, Justus Kabyemera, Coordinator – ClimDev Africa Special Fund at the African Development Bank called on Africa to resolve the  issue of gender and inclusivity for climate change and development sooner than later.

“Of course there are issues that remain to be sorted out, but as most of you highlighted in the course of the discussions, we need to be more strategic and assertive in our decisions. Issues of gender and inclusivity for climate change and development are some of the gaps that we need to resolve sooner than later,” he said.

He pointed out that throughout the discussions, it came clear that there was need of a coordinated and programmatic approach to climate change initiatives across the continent.

“Working in silos or doing business as usual is no longer tenable especially as we grapple with the meager resources at our disposal,” he told the conference, which was attended by different government representatives, members of parliament, civil society among other.

“We need to leverage and compliment the resources and build on the capacities of all players in the climate change arena. There is need to scale up the various initiatives, including climate services, loss and damage mechanism/models, early warning systems; but also domesticated approaches as the countries brace to implement their NDC within the framework of the Paris Agreement,” said Kabyemera.

He promised that the Bank, within the framework of ClimDev Africa and more so the Climate Change Action Plan for the period 2016 -2020 and the Feed Africa Strategy will enhance its financial and technical support to the cause of climate change across the continent.

“The Bank will continue to support the African Group of Negotiators to strengthen the African voice at international climate forums for affirmative action. We pledge to assist and facilitate countries in the implementation of their NDCs,” he said.

The bank seeks to collaborate with other partners in the implementation of both the Adaptation for African Agriculture – Triple A and Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI), which we hope will be closely linked for the creation of synergies between them.

Kabyemera pointed out that the CCDA-VI had set pace not only for COP-22, but also for CCDA-VII, which is expected to be a trend setter for the implementation of the Paris Agreement on the Continent.

“It is our hope that all African countries will have ratified their NDCs with well guided and articulate policy frameworks at the country level to guide the implementation process. This is one aspect that we all need to collaborate to accomplish. We look forward to collaborating with you all in the implementation of the Paris Agreement in a well-coordinated and programmatic manner,” he said.

ADDIS Ababa, Ethiopia (PAMACC News) - As the sixth session of the Climate Change and Development for Africa (CCDA_CI) came to a close, Justus Kabyemera, Coordinator – ClimDev Africa Special Fund at the African Development Bank called on Africa to resolve the  issue of gender and inclusivity for climate change and development sooner than later.

“Of course there are issues that remain to be sorted out, but as most of you highlighted in the course of the discussions, we need to be more strategic and assertive in our decisions. Issues of gender and inclusivity for climate change and development are some of the gaps that we need to resolve sooner than later,” he said.

He pointed out that throughout the discussions, it came clear that there was need of a coordinated and programmatic approach to climate change initiatives across the continent.

“Working in silos or doing business as usual is no longer tenable especially as we grapple with the meager resources at our disposal,” he told the conference, which was attended by different government representatives, members of parliament, civil society among other.

“We need to leverage and compliment the resources and build on the capacities of all players in the climate change arena. There is need to scale up the various initiatives, including climate services, loss and damage mechanism/models, early warning systems; but also domesticated approaches as the countries brace to implement their NDC within the framework of the Paris Agreement,” said Kabyemera.

He promised that the Bank, within the framework of ClimDev Africa and more so the Climate Change Action Plan for the period 2016 -2020 and the Feed Africa Strategy will enhance its financial and technical support to the cause of climate change across the continent.

“The Bank will continue to support the African Group of Negotiators to strengthen the African voice at international climate forums for affirmative action. We pledge to assist and facilitate countries in the implementation of their NDCs,” he said.

The bank seeks to collaborate with other partners in the implementation of both the Adaptation for African Agriculture – Triple A and Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI), which we hope will be closely linked for the creation of synergies between them.

Kabyemera pointed out that the CCDA-VI had set pace not only for COP-22, but also for CCDA-VII, which is expected to be a trend setter for the implementation of the Paris Agreement on the Continent.

“It is our hope that all African countries will have ratified their NDCs with well guided and articulate policy frameworks at the country level to guide the implementation process. This is one aspect that we all need to collaborate to accomplish. We look forward to collaborating with you all in the implementation of the Paris Agreement in a well-coordinated and programmatic manner,” he said.

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.

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.