FAO Office in Egypt has announced its support and encouragement of Egyptian journalists and media figures to participate in its journalism award for the Near East and North Africa, NENA, region. FAO had launched the first round of its NENA Media Award ito reward contributions of journalists in raising awareness on the major challenges facing the region in relation to food security. This includes reporting on topics such as water scarcity and sustainable agriculture water management; eradication of food insecurity and malnutrition; building resilience and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 in the context of crisis and conflicts; sustainable development of small scale agriculture for inclusive economic growth, eradicating rural poverty, rural gender inequalities, youth unemployment and migration.
The award also aims to increase awareness among the public on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular those related to FAO’s mandate: end poverty in all of its forms everywhere (SDG1); end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG2); ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (SDG 6); ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG7); ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG12) take urgent actions to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG13); conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (SDG14); protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (SDG15).
The award encourages creative communication throughout the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016 to 2025), adopted recently by The United Nations General Assembly, and described by FAO as a major step towards mobilising action in the direction of reducing hunger and improving nutrition around the world.
Mr. Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa said: “This award aims at encouraging journalists to play their vital role in highlighting issues of relevance to their communities, especially topics related to agriculture, nutrition and sustainable management of natural resources.”
Participating works may be presented in any of the three languages: Arabic, French and English. The winner will be announced in September 2016. The award will be handed by FAO representative during the Food World Day event on 16 October 2016, which will be held this year under the slogan of “Weather changes…and food and agriculture as well”.
The jury consists of the Assistant Director-General of FAO, Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, the Regional Director of initiatives support, a representative from media department and corporate communications of FAO, a representative from the Media Department of the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, and a number of prominent journalists.
Watani International
21 August 2016