April 2012: The Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is organizing a series of regional media workshops on desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) in the lead up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and has recently called for applications from African journalists specialized in the environment.

Up to 14 journalists will receive financial support to participate in a three-day workshop in Algeria. The workshop will seek to increase media coverage of the challenges related to land degradation and best management practices for sustainable land, raise awareness of the proposal for zero net land degradation as a Rio+20 target, and develop a community of journalists who write regularly on DLDD issues.

The competition is open to all African journalists specialized in the environment and who have already published articles on land degradation and desertification. The cost of travel and accommodation to attend the workshop will be supported by the Algerian Government. The workshop will be held from 29-31 May 2012, and the working language will be French. Applications should be submitted by 3 May 2012. [UNCCD Press Release (in French)][IISD RS Post on UNCCD Workshop for Asian Journalists]