Arab Media Forum for Environment and Development

The Dialogue for Development Regional Approach Initiative is a regional outgrowth from AMFED's national initiative, which conducted a series of national media consultations to enable the Egyptian media to take an active role in good governance, reform policies, and democratization.

The regional project seeks to mobilize the Arab media in the Maghreb region (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia); the Mashreq region (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Syria); and the Gulf region (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE) to take an active role in supporting greater civic participation and good governance practices both within the media itself and in relation to the public sphere. The consultations aim to support and encourage constructive dialogue on media rights, media advocacy and the media's role in development and democratization. The initiative further aims to transfer the concept of "dialogue" to participating countries, which embraces respect for the other, non-confrontational exchange of information, and consensual agreement.

Overall Project Objectives:

• Determine the relevant development related issues in the Arab region and develop an action plan for the media to work with various stakeholders in promoting and addressing those development issues
• Support the creation of an enabling environment for civic participation
• Promote knowledge of democratic practices among the general public, including increasing awareness and sensitization towards effective political participation
• Support the creation of a network of regional media professionals working towards a freer media with objective reporting, that advocates on behalf of the media sector and the general public on development issues
• Enhance the capacity of a broad-base of media professionals working in the regional mass media to provide comprehensive information to the general public on pivotal issues related to civic participation, as well as economic, social, and political development issues

Activities:

1) Regional Launch Event - a high-profile consultation to be held in Cairo, Egypt, bringing together regional partners participating in this initiative.

2) Sub-regional Consultations - during the launch event, regional partners will provide country-specific information on problem areas, challenges and priorities for action within the context of the media. AMFED will identify a specific set of themes for the media consultations in partnership with its regional members and contacts, as well as through information gathering. Themes will focus on cross-cutting regional concerns related to development. Six media consultations will be held regionally, gathering media professionals and other stakeholders to explore solutions, identify best practices and recommendations, and create country action plans.

3) Training for Young Arab Media Practitioners:

• Three training workshops to be developed and implemented over a 3-year period
• AMFED to identify priority themes for training for young media practitioners from the Arab world in partnership with regional members and contacts

     Objectives:

• Provide knowledge and skills to introduce a culture of dialogue
• Increase the ability to report accurately and objectively on critical events
• Sensitize the media to their important role in shaping society and public opinion

4) End of Initiative Event - a high-profile consultation to be held bringing regional partners and participants together to synthesize and disseminate project achievements, and reach consensus on further action plans.

     Objectives:

• Debrief on the initiative's region-wide achievements, and country-specific achievements
• Present all workable recommendations gleaned from the five regional consultations
• Present action plans for the practical pursuit and execution of recommendations, at both the country and regional levels