  Nouakchott hosts the first meeting of the African Network of Environmental Journalists (ANEJ), on the theme, “Poverty and Environment, what role for the African Media?”
From 27 February to 1st March, 2006, The African Network of Environment Journalists held the first meeting of its Executive Bureau in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The workshop, under the theme “Poverty and Environment, what role for the African media?” was co-funded by the Government of Mauritania and UNEP’s Poverty and Environment Unit. More than 30 journalists from 17 countries were represented, to discuss experiences about the importance of the Poverty and Environment nexus, and review ways to sensitize the different groups, notably decision makers, in taking the environment into consideration in their country National Development Plans.
For UNEP, this three day workshop was a chance to develop a communication strategy for the Poverty and Environment Project. This communication strategy, if approved by UNEP, could be used as a framework to assure the outreach of the project. The forum was also an occasion for ANEJ to draft and approve their plan of action for the biennium 2006-2007.
The workshop was also an opportunity to seek high government support, which was materialized by an audience with the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, his Excellency Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. During that meeting, he expressed his support for the Poverty and Environment work in Mauritania and reminded UNEP that the environment is at the core of his agenda, and therefore of utmost importance to his Government.
Mamadou KANE, P&E Unit.
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