The key problems that retard the use of climate information and prediction services have been identified through increased interaction with users in the various socio-economic sectors and include that the language used is too difficult to understand for most users; the outlooks are presented in terms of difficult probability jargon; non availability of user specific products; products not accessible in time; and users are not aware of the availability and potential use of the climate products. It is in this regard that the Drought monitoring Centre and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of the GHA are strengthening collaboration and enhancing interactions between them and the media sector to improve the dissemination and application of the information. Such efforts have led to establishment of the regional ‘network of Climate Journalists and Scientists of the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) - NECJOGHA’.
 

NETWORK OF CLIMATE JOURNALISTS AND SCIENTISTS OF THE GHA (NECJOGHA)

Background

The regional network for Climate Journalists and Scientists (NECJOGHA) was formed in February 2002 at Eldoret, Kenya during the ninth Climate Outlook Forum (COF9), after a series of interactions between journalists and climate scientists at climate outlook forums and users workshops. The ten countries that are members of NECJOGHA include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

The objective of the network is to enhance the interactions between the climate scientists and the journalists to enable climate information to be disseminated to the users in ways that are easily understood by all including the policy makers and the general public in GHA.

NECJOGHA promotes and co-ordinates dissemination of climate related information in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) in a professional manner. It collaborates with National Meteorological Services and other specialised climate institutions of the region with a view synthesize scientific information for different sectors e.g. health, agriculture, environment, hydrology, power and industry etc.
It strives to provide timely climate information to members in the GHA for dissemination to the public. This information originates from National Meteorological Services in each respective country and such specialised agencies as World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Drought Monitoring Centre Nairobi (DMCN).

Climate Media Associations in each country provide the focal points, which co-ordinate the country activities. Country associations have membership from practising media professionals and weather/climate information experts. A regional resource centre will be built now that a NECJOGHA secretariat has been formed.

The Network will also build capacity and create awareness in member countries in the region.  It will also advise and provide guidance to the specialised climate institutions on media matters and the public.

The formation of NECJOGHA was strongly recommended and blessed by a side meeting of journalists during COF 8 in Jinja, Uganda.

Specific activities

 Establishment of national media networks. Media and Climate scientists media networks have been established in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania.

•  Development of strategy paper on effective dissemination and application of climate information.
•  Capacity building workshops for the media and climate scientists.
• The Drought Monitoring Centre Nairobi (DMCN) is in the process of establishing a Web site for the Regional Network (NECJOGHA). National web sites are also being initiated within the national meteorological Services web pages.

The elected officials of the regional network for Climate Scientists and Journalists (NECJOGHA) are:
 

Recommendations - GHACOF 10: (being compiled)