AUB and UNESCO Groundbreaking Training for Journalists in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of Africa on climate change and disasters reporting

DAKAR, SENEGAL- The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), in collaboration with UNESCO, is proud to announce the launch of a transformative online training programme focused on strengthening the capacity of broadcast journalists and media professionals in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to effectively report climate change and disaster risks.

This programme is specifically tailored for participants from Comoros, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mauritius as follows:

1. Mauritius and Comoros (French)

Date: 28July to 30 August, 2025

Time: 09:00 AM Comoros time

2. Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe (Portuguese)

Date 30 July to 1 August, 2025

Time: 08:00 AM Cape Verde time

The training is part of AUB’s commitment to empowering African media to deliver reliable, inclusive, and life-saving communication before, during, and after disasters, in the face of worsening climate change impacts.

Africa’s island nations are on the frontlines of rising seas, stronger storms, and growing misinformation. In these high-risk zones, the media is not just a source of information, it is a lifeline.

This programme is designed to equip broadcasters with the skills, tools, and editorial judgment needed to:

• Report accurately on climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR)

• Develop a disaster preparedness and response plan for timely dissemination of life saving information before, during and after disasters.

• Produce inclusive content that leaves no one behind, including vulnerable and remote populations

Highlights of the Training

• Solutions journalism and fact-checking tools for disaster reporting

• Practical labs on ethical storytelling, gender-sensitive coverage, and emergency communication

• Institutional policy drafting for in-house Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans (DPRPs)

Sessions are delivered by leading African journalists, media trainers and disaster communication experts.