The Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists and the Kenyan Arid Lands Information Network are the co-winners of the 2012 edition of the UNESCO-IPDC Prize for Rural Communication, which recognizes meritorious and innovative efforts to improve communication for rural communities in developing countries. The award ceremony is taking place on 22 March at 5 p.m at UNESCO Headquarters during the 28th session of the IPDC Council.
The two laureates will share the US$ 20,000 Prize, which recognizes meritorious and innovative effort to improve communication for rural communities in developing countries. It is awarded every two years following a recommendation to the UNESCO Director-General by the IPDC Bureau, which acts as jury for the Prize. *The Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) *NEFEJ is an NGO established in 1986 for the promotion of environmental journalism in Nepal. Throughout its 25-year long journey, NEFEJ has been actively engaged in raising public awareness about sustainable development through the use of various forms of media, in particular community radio. In 1997 NEFEJ created the first community radio in Nepal, Radio Sagarmatha, marking a breakthrough in NEFEJ's struggle to promote community radio in the country. Its efforts included providing assistance to other community radio stations which were later established in the country. With this aim, it launched the Community Radio Support Centre (CRSC). The Director of the CRSC, Raghu Mainali, will be present at the ceremony to receive the prize. > Read interview with Raghu Mainali, Director of NEFEJ at http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/IPDC/Interview%20NEFEJ.pdf or http://www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/about-this-office/single-view/news/unesco_ipdc_prize_for_rural_communication_to_nepal/ > NEFEJ website: http://www.nefej.org/ *The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) *ALIN is an NGO with a mission to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa by facilitating access to information and knowledge exchange between communities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. This is done through community-based Maarifa centres (knowledge community centres) via a range of channels that include: Web portals, mobile phone platforms, workshops, exchange visits and regular publications. Its activities focus on small-scale sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and other community livelihood issues. James Nguo Impwi, Regional Director, will attend the ceremony to receive the prize. > Read interview with James Nguo, Regional Director of ALIN: http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/IPDC/Interview%20ALIN.pdf > ALIN website: http://www.alin.or.ke/ Audio interview with James Nguo from ALIN in mp3 at: http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/audio/interview_james_nguo_ALIN_shortversion.mp3 Source: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/ipdc/about-ipdc/intergovernmental-council/28th-session-of-ipdc-council/unesco-ipdc-prize-for-rural-communication/ -- Dr. Vinod Pavarala Professor of Communication & UNESCO Chair on Community Media Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication University of Hyderabad Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500046 Phone: +91-40-23135501/23011553 http://tinyurl.com/dofcomm
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