Workshop Declaration

We, journalists attending Workshop on Food Security and Sustainable Development, organised by UN-HABITAT and COASAD in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21-22 November 2002, hereby declare as follows:

We appreciate the recognition accorded to the media as an instrument in creating awareness and conscientization of African people in the fight against the scourges of food insecurity, famines, and malnutrition affecting much of Africa.

Considering that:

* Africa today is faced with multifaceted developmental and social problems with food insecurity, famine and HIV posing serious threats to millions of lives;

* It is our moral, professional and social responsibility to address these prevailing problems, focusing on what we can do in the sector of communication;

* There is serious lack of information in the areas of adequate policy formulation and their implementation, as well as the issue of biotechnology, especially GMOs, we acknowledge the important role of biotechnology and its potential and limitations in addressing the food insecurity situation in Africa,

* The bulk of food consumed in Africa is produced in the rural areas, and statistics show that rural women are the main producers but they do not own the land they farm or other relevant resources and they do not have access to appropriate agricultural extension services;

* The issue of food security is pivotal to the realization of the goals of poverty reduction and better living conditions in cities and villages,

We Therefore Agree and Recommend the Following:

* That the media should play a more active role in highlighting the problems of food insecurity and sustainable development at national and regional levels;

* That Policy makers, Parliamentarians and Journalists come together at a joint forum to forge strategies for confronting food security issues;

* That future fora be more interactive, allowing Journalists to learn from each other and share experiences from their respective countries;

* That because of the critical role of women in food production, there is a need for more active and visible participation of women including rural women in food security workshops;

* That as highlighted at this workshop, the absence of critical and substantive information on Genetically Modified Organisms as a solution to Africa’s food shortage should be urgently addressed; and,

• That there should be sustained information and networking among journalists which can be enhanced through the creation of a web site and database on food security, open to both journalists and food experts as a resource center.
• That we hereby form a Network of African Journalists on Food Security (NAJFS) to propagate these issues.

Done in Nairobi this 22 day of November 2002.