Late last week, the consultative workshop organized by the Society of Environmental Writers and Development (SWED) in cooperation with the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate concluded under the title:
“Covering Priority Environmental Issues within the Strategy of the Small Grants Programme (SGP) – Phase VII.”
The workshop was part of the project “Knowledge Management, Communication, and Innovation Promotion,” implemented by the Society with funding from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) during its seventh operational phase in Egypt.
Enhancing Journalists’ Capacity on Environmental Coverage
Held over three days at the Journalists Syndicate’s Training Center in Cairo, the workshop aimed to strengthen the capacities of journalists and correspondents from several governorates to cover environmental issues with depth and professionalism—focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation—in alignment with Egypt’s sustainable development goals.
It also sought to enhance partnerships between media outlets and civil society organizations to address priority environmental issues under the SGP, while emphasizing the role of media in raising environmental awareness and simplifying complex challenges for the general public.
Broad Participation from Across Egypt
The workshop brought together 25 correspondents from Alexandria, Beheira, Fayoum, Qena, and Luxor, the governorates where Phase VII projects are being implemented, alongside journalists from Cairo and Giza—expanding the reach of environmental coverage on both local and national levels.
The opening session was attended by prominent figures, including journalist Khaled El-Balshy, Head of the Journalists Syndicate; Dr. Ghada Ahmedin, Assistant National Coordinator of the SGP; and Dr. Mahmoud Bakr, Chairman of the Society of Environmental Writers and Development, in addition to a distinguished group of experts and media professionals specializing in environmental journalism.
Workshop Sessions and Key Themes
Over three days, sessions covered several key themes:
Day One: Introduced the working mechanisms of the Small Grants Programme in Egypt under the motto “Think Globally, Act Locally,” highlighting 27 ongoing projects implemented by various NGOs. Discussions also tackled the role of Artificial Intelligence in environmental journalism, and concluded with a session on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity led by Dr. Ayman Farid Abou Hadid, former Minister of Agriculture and member of the Egyptian Forum for Sustainable Development.
Day Two: Focused on renewable energy and water resource management, featuring interactive sessions between journalists and experts, moderated by Engineer Ayman Heiba, Head of the Sustainable Development Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.
Day Three: Addressed integrated waste management, pollution reduction, and recycling, in a discussion with Dr. Omaima Sawan, Waste Management Consultant at the Ministry of Environment. Topics included single-use plastic bag regulations and land degradation challenges, along with proposals for new media initiatives in partnership with civil society to expand environmental awareness in target governorates.
Recognition and Environmental Media Competition
During the closing session, Dr. Mahmoud Bakr, along with the Knowledge Management Project team and members of the Society’s Board, honored the participating journalists for their contributions.
The event also marked the launch of a special environmental media competition targeting journalists working in the geographical regions covered by Phase VII of the SGP—West Delta (Alexandria and Beheira), Upper Egypt (Qena and Luxor), and Fayoum.
The competition focuses on the role of NGOs in implementing environmental projects funded by the SGP and their impact on ecosystem protection and local livelihoods.
Journalist Mahmoud El-Eisawy, Project Manager of Knowledge Management, explained that entries must have been published between September 1 and December 31, 2025, in recognized media outlets, addressing one or more of the environmental projects in the target areas. Eligible works include written reports, investigative pieces, and audiovisual materials, provided they are original and have not been submitted to other competitions.
He added that three cash prizes are allocated for each region:
First Prize: 8,000 EGP
Second Prize: 6,000 EGP
Third Prize: 4,000 EGP
Entries are accepted until January 15, 2026, via email at swed.egypt2025@gmail.com, accompanied by personal and professional details, a copy of the published work, and a publication link (if available).
Toward a Strategic Partnership Between Media and Civil Society
Organizers emphasized that this initiative represents the beginning of a strategic partnership between the media and civil society to enhance community awareness of environmental issues and connect them to people’s daily lives through real stories demonstrating the impact of small projects on natural resource protection and quality of life.
Participants agreed that the media competition serves as a practical step to motivate journalists to contribute actively to shaping a new environmental narrative that reflects the priorities of the SGP’s seventh phase and helps expand the foundation of environmental awareness and sustainable development across Egypt.