Malabo, November 27-28, 2024. In a landmark initiative to strengthen media capacity and promote informed public discourse on critical population and development issues, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with ASOPGE Asociación de Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial, launched the first-ever Journalist Network on Population and Development in Equatorial Guinea.

This milestone marked the culmination of a two-day capacity-building workshop held on November 27-28, 2024, which brought together 55 journalists (35 men and 20 women) from across the country. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Vice Minister of Communication, with the participation of the General Directors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, signifying the government's commitment to this initiative.

During the workshop, journalists received comprehensive training on key population and development concepts, including: Demographic data analysis and interpretation to understand the impact of population trends on society ; Identifying key demographic trends to analyze their implications for national development ; Analyzing public policies to evaluate policies related to population and development and Developing informative stories to promoting public debate and informed decision-making.

In her opening remarks, Hind Jalal, UNFPA Representative emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with the necessary tools to report accurately and objectively on population and development challenges and opportunities. Expressing gratitude to UNFPA for their initiative, the Vice Minister of Communication stated, "We are deeply grateful to UNFPA for their dedication to empowering our media professionals. The government is fully committed to supporting this network and ensuring its success in raising awareness and promoting informed dialogue on these vital issues". This commitment underscores the government's recognition of the crucial role media plays in national development.

Group photo of officials after the opening Ceremony, Malabo, Photo credit, UNFPA-GE

The workshop was met with great enthusiasm from participants. Salvador Mesie, a journalist from Bata, shared, "The seminar has been very interesting for me. As a journalist, I have been retrained through this workshop, and I have learned many things about how we, as communicators, can contribute to development on the different topics addressed."

José Antonio Ndong Obama Okomo, the President of ASOPGE expressed his hope that the network would "shed light and achieve the goals for which it was created," urging his fellow journalists to actively participate and contribute.

The establishment of this network signifies a crucial step towards fostering informed public discourse and evidence-based policymaking in Equatorial Guinea. By empowering journalists with knowledge and skills, UNFPA is investing in a future where population and development issues are understood and addressed effectively, contributing to the country's overall progress and the well-being of its people.

His Excellency Vice Minister of Communication, UNFPA Representative in Equatorial Guinea, and a journalist from TVGE Photo credit, UNFPA-GE