Raising environmental awareness is a top priority for the Small Grants Programme El-Balshi: The Journalists’ Syndicate is committed to providing accessible and specialized environmental content Kamal: The Environmental Compliance Office supports civil society’s efforts to protect the environment Bakr: A competition for journalists in the governorates covered by Phase VII of the Small Grants Programme As part of its efforts to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations, the Association of Environmental and Development Writers (SWEED) organized the second training workshop to build documentation and communication skills for a group of NGOs implementing projects funded by the Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) of the Global Environment Facility. The event was held within the framework of the Knowledge Management, Communication, and Innovation Promotion Project, implemented by the association with funding from the programme, as part of Phase VII of the Small Grants Programme in Egypt. The three-day workshop took place from February 2 to 4, 2025, at the headquarters of the Journalists’ Syndicate in Cairo, attended by Dr. Emad El-Din Adly, National Coordinator of the Small Grants Programme; journalist Khaled El-Balshi, President of the Journalists’ Syndicate; Engineer Ahmed Kamal, Executive Director of the Environmental Compliance and Sustainable Development Office at the Federation of Egyptian Industries; Engineer Hatem El-Roumi, First Deputy of the Sustainable Energy Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Mahmoud Bakr, Chairman of the Association of Environmental and Development Writers. In his speech, El-Balshi emphasized the Syndicate’s commitment to cooperating with the Association of Environmental and Development Writers in raising environmental awareness and supporting environmental journalism. He noted that the main challenge in environmental media lies in simplifying environmental terms for the public, which the Syndicate seeks to address through cooperation protocols with the Ministry of Environment to provide specialized and meaningful content on environmental issues. For his part, Dr. Emad El-Din Adly explained that the Small Grants Programme has been active in Egypt for over 30 years and is currently implemented in 128 countries. The programme has funded around 400 environmental projects in Egypt, distributed over seven phases. He highlighted that the programme operates under the principle “Think globally, act locally,” which has helped transform many local initiatives into globally recognized models — such as biogas projects and the cultivation of medicinal plants. Adly praised the significant role played by the Association of Environmental and Development Writers in training NGOs to produce and publish documentary content about their projects, thereby maximizing the reach and benefits of their experiences. He also noted that the association succeeded in securing funding for the Knowledge Management, Communication, and Innovation Promotion Project — one of only 16 approved environmental projects out of 70 applications, after a highly competitive selection process, underscoring its importance and value. Meanwhile, Engineer Ahmed Kamal stressed the importance of environmental journalists being multidisciplinary, covering areas such as tourism, agriculture, and petroleum, since sustainability is linked to all sectors. He expressed the readiness of the Environmental Compliance Office at the Federation of Egyptian Industries to support the association’s efforts in showcasing civil society’s role in environmental protection and sustainable development projects. Dr. Mahmoud Bakr emphasized that the Association of Environmental and Development Writers aims to raise environmental awareness, build journalists’ capacities in environmental reporting, and enhance NGOs’ documentation skills through print, online, and direct training initiatives. Bakr also announced the launch of an environmental media competition for journalists in the geographical regions targeted under Phase VII of the programme — including the governorates of Alexandria, Beheira, Qena, Luxor, and Fayoum. On this occasion, the association invited all journalists and media professionals working in print, broadcast, and digital media in these governorates to participate in this valuable opportunity and contribute to promoting environmental awareness and supporting sustainable development projects. The competition aims to raise environmental awareness by highlighting the role of NGOs in implementing environmental projects under the seventh phase of the Small Grants Programme, showcasing their impact on ecosystem conservation and improving local livelihoods, and engaging decision-makers across the governorates to help design and implement appropriate solutions for environmental challenges.