NGO develops 5-year strategic plan for media sustainability
By Jessica Dogo
The African Women in Media (AWiM), an NGO, says it has developed a five-year strategic plan For media sustainability in Africa.
Dr Yemisi Akinbobola, AWiM Co-Founder, disclosed this on Thursday at the two-day 2024 AWiM Conference, holding in Dakar, Senegal.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference sponsored by MacArthur Foundation, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, UNESCO, UN Women, in partnership with Luminate, has “Media and Sustainability” as its theme.
Akinbobola said that in line with the 2024 AWiM theme, which she described as befitting, work had started with monitoring and evaluating its consultant to determine the impact made and opportunities ahead for women.
“For us at AWIM, 2024 has been a year filled with reflections; looking back on our journey over the last eight years, an incredible journey it has, been reflecting on this to plan a new future for AWiM.
“We envision a new AWiM and the feedback of those who took part in our consultation has been valuable in developing our plans.
“These insights are currently under review as we develop our strategic plan for the next five years, ” she said.
Earlier in his speech, Bulakali Alfred, Regional Director, Article 19, Senegal and West Africa, said that his group’s mandate complemented AWiM’s vision.
Alfred said that the vision was that of ensuring that African women had equal access to representation and opportunities in media industry.
According to him, critical examination of barriers such as violence against women and vulnerability in digital spaces, Article 19 brings up conversations that redefine the role of media in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“That African Union’s commitment to protecting women in media is exemplified through initiatives like the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
“This closely aligns with AWiM’s Kigali declaration on the elimination of gender violence in and through media by 2034.
“At the continental level, these commitments represent significant steps toward ensuring that women in media are protected, their voices amplified and their work recognised,” he said.
He expressed optimism to a transformative and collaborative AWiM conference and urged organisers and participants to seek sustainable solutions to achieve the Africa everyone wants and deserves.
Participants at the AWiM 2024 are mostly women journalists drawn from different countries within and outside Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman