Adly: Raising Awareness of Environmental Issues Tops the Priorities of the Small Grants Program El-Balshy: The Journalists’ Syndicate Is Committed to Providing Simplified and Specialized Environmental Content Kamal: The Environmental Compliance Office Supports Civil Society’s Efforts to Protect the Environment Bakr: A Journalism Competition in the Governorates of Phase Seven of the Small Grants Program
As part of its efforts to strengthen the capacities of NGOs, the Environment and Development Writers Association “Sweid” organized the second training workshop to build documentation and communication skills for a group of associations implementing projects funded by the Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP). The workshop was held under the “Knowledge Management, Communication, and Innovation Promotion” project, funded by the program as part of its operational Phase Seven in Egypt.
The three-day workshop took place from February 2 to 4, 2025, at the headquarters of the Journalists’ Syndicate in Cairo. It was attended by Dr. Emad El-Din Adly, National Coordinator of the Small Grants Program; journalist Khaled El-Balshy, President of the Journalists’ Syndicate; Engineer Ahmed Kamal, Executive Director of the Environmental Compliance and Sustainable Development Office at the Federation of Egyptian Industries; Engineer Hatem El-Roumy, First Vice President of the Sustainable Energy Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Mahmoud Bakr, Chairman of the Environment and Development Writers Association.
In his speech, the Syndicate President emphasized the Syndicate’s commitment to cooperating with the Environment and Development Writers Association to promote environmental awareness and support environmental journalism. He noted that the main challenge in environmental media is simplifying environmental terminology for the public, a goal the Syndicate pursues through cooperation protocols with the Ministry of Environment to deliver specialized and purposeful content on environmental issues.
Dr. Emad El-Din Adly explained that the Small Grants Program has been active in Egypt for over 30 years and is currently implemented in 128 countries. The program has funded around 400 environmental projects in Egypt across seven phases. He stressed that the program operates under the principle “Think globally, act locally,” which has helped transform many local initiatives into globally successful models, such as biogas projects and the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Adly praised the vital role played by the Environment and Development Writers Association in training NGOs to produce documentary content about their projects and publish it across media platforms, enabling broader benefit. He noted that the association secured funding for the Knowledge Management and Innovation Promotion project among 16 selected environmental projects out of 70 applicants, following a highly competitive process—highlighting the project’s significance and value.
Engineer Ahmed Kamal emphasized the importance of environmental journalists being multidisciplinary—covering fields such as tourism, agriculture, and petroleum—not just environmental issues, since sustainability intersects with all sectors. He expressed the Environmental Compliance Office’s readiness to support the Environment and Development Writers Association in showcasing civil society’s efforts in environmental protection and development projects.
Dr. Mahmoud Bakr affirmed the association’s mission to raise environmental awareness and enhance journalists’ capacities in environmental media, while also strengthening NGOs’ skills in documenting their activities through newspapers, magazines, websites, and direct training.
Bakr announced the launch of an environmental media competition targeting journalists in the geographic regions covered by Phase Seven of the program, including Alexandria, Beheira, Qena, Luxor, and Fayoum. On this occasion, the Environment and Development Writers Association invited all journalists and media professionals working in print, radio, and television in the targeted governorates to participate in this unique opportunity to promote environmental awareness and support sustainable development projects.
The competition aims to raise environmental awareness by highlighting the role of NGOs in implementing environmental projects under Phase Seven of the Small Grants Program, and the impact of these projects on ecosystem preservation and improving the lives of local communities. It also seeks to engage decision-makers across the governorates in developing and implementing appropriate solutions to environmental challenges.