The conference brought together over 300 women journalists from all 54 African countries to discuss the theme: “Climate Emergency, the Media Actors of Change”. 

The network, initiated by Groupe 2M of Morocco, is aimed at empowering women journalists on the African continent to highlight the plights of the continent and, together, with one voice, help to bring about the needed changes for the African people especially, African women and children.

In his welcome speech, the Director General of 2M, Salim Cheikh, said that one of the aims of the network was to promote parity and provide more opportunities to women.  He was elated that from about a 100 participants that the first conference welcomed in Marrakech in 2017, the numbers had

grown steadily from 100 to 200 the following year and 300 in 2020 with representatives from all the 54 African countries.

Madam Fathia El Aouin, President of the Panafrican Women Journalists’ Network noted that with one united voice across the continent, the network would be a force to reckon with.

She said that the theme for the 2020 conference was chosen because our environment is being degraded at a very fast pace and if we did not address it, Africa would bear the brunt of the consequences.

Madam El Aouin pointed out that the earth is all we have and therefore we must do everything to protect it. She said that the media had a lot to do in this regard to sensitise the population on the horrors of destroying the environment.

In a panel discussion on “African Initiatives and Commitments to Climate Change Adaption”, the panelists noted that as the population is growing, there is the need for nations to work together to find lasting solutions to the destruction of the environment.

The Panafricans then went into smaller workshops to discuss various topics relating to climate change. The first workshop was themed: Succeeding Africa’s energy transition: issues and challenges. The members noted that energy was very important in the lives of a people.  They advocated that solar energy be promoted more widely so that more people could make use of this natural energy which would also help minimise other sources of energy which have negative impacts on the populace.

The second workshop was organized around the theme "The challenges of rational management of

water resources". Participants noted that a third of the African population or 330 million people, do not have access to drinking water. They said that almost half of Africans suffer from health problems due to the lack of portable drinking water and called on governments to see the provision of good drinking water as a priority for a healthy nation.

The other workshops touched on Agriculture, Health, Sustainable Development and Waste Management.

The journalists pledged to use their profession to fight for a better, clean and healthy environment.

The theme of “ media agents of change ”at the top of the priorities for the year, with 24% of the votes

Closing remarks of the 3rd edition of the panafricaines by samira sitail, member of the standing committee of panafricaines

Permanent pan-African committee

Restitution Of Thematic Workshops

Restitution Of Thematic Workshops