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Mogadishu City, October 19, 2023:Twenty Somali journalists and members from environmental CSOs have jointly undergone 2- day training on improving reporting on environmental issues, climate change, natural disasters and their social impacts in Mogadishu city.

Twenty key participants of the training program were journalists and members of the environmental CSOs attended the 2-day training program held at Sahafi Hotel from the 17th to 18th October 2023.

The journalists and members from the environmental CSOs were imparted with an understanding of the special purpose for building better understanding and cooperation for campaigning on environmental issues sharing information, and producing media content about climate change, natural disasters and mitigation measures.

The training will also help build better working relationships between Somali media practitioners and environmental CSOs and stakeholders.

In his opening speech, Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Sharif), senior media trainer and Head of the Training Department of FESOJ said: "The training is significant to improve understanding the environmental issues and strengthen networking between the journalists and environmental CSOs to raising public awareness and campaigning for lessening its social impacts’”

On his part, Said Hagay, senior media trainer, pointed out that journalists are required to always ask why and how to gather more information relating to climate issues.

During the 2 – day training sessions, the participants were taken through the thematic topics: -

Training Environmental Reporting, what is the environment, what is climate change, causes of climate change, Climate Change Impacts, Discussion on: Solutions for climate change, Discussion on: What do you know about the current media's role in environmental reporting and Discussion on ethical reporting and Environmental issues.

Moreover, the participants were given an opportunity to group work on the following key themes: Causes of climate change, Current Effects of Climate Change, how can the media and environmental organizations work together on climate change, how can the press and environmental organizations educate the public and make the government aware of climate change? Which are the biggest and most dangerous diseases caused by climate change in Somalia, and how can they be reduced? And the problems caused by climate change that have the most impact on Somalis and how to prevent them?

Furthermore, Wali Hashi – Journalist and project specialist from VIKES (Finnish Foundation for Media Development) has presented short video clip documentary relating with reporting on climate change and its consequences in parts of Somalia for the participants attending the training program.

Kiin Hassan, a female journalist from Bilan Media, pointed out that FESOJ has provided us with training highlighting the importance of reporting the impact of climate change and environmental issues. Which will make an added change in our media professional work. She noted the journalists' established link with the members from the environmental organizations to contribute their expertise during interviews and reporting on climate change.

"I am very pleased to have participated in the 2-day training focusing on environmental issues, climate change and the natural disasters, and to prevent them.” Abdirahman Mohamed Hassan from Radio Arlaadi said.

Anisa Hassan, a female environmental activist from Greenlight Organization, mentioned the training was significant as we have learned the important relationship between the media role and the environmental activities and expected to take part in the efforts to reduce the impact of climate change which has effect on the environment.

"The gained advantage of the training was to have presented and discussed what we know about climate change globally and its social impact in Somalia.” Mohamed Hish Mohamed, Director of the Somali Environmental Forum stated.

In conclusion, "The 2-day training with the journalists and the environmental organizations was planned to improve the understanding and reporting environmental issues including climate change, natural disasters such as droughts, flooding and their social impacts globally and especially in Somalia.” Farah Omar Nur, Secretary General of FESOJ, mentioned in his closing remarks.

The training workshop for improving reporting environmental issues, climate change, natural disasters and their social impacts is part of a series of capacity-building program activities funded by the EU, supported by Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and implemented by FESOJ in cooperation with VIKES.

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