UNESCO     United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

UNESCO Malawi in 2009

Malawi  Media participate in parliamentary reporting training
Training expected to foster close collaboration and establish rapport between the media and parliament

Twelve media organizations participated in a UNESCO-supported training of trainers in parliamentary reporting in Lilongwe Malawi from 1 – 3 December, 2009.
Organized by the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO with financial support from the UNESCO office in Harare, the training drew journalists from the print and electronic media both state- and independently- owned.  The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Honourable  Leckford  Thotho officially opened the three-day training workshop.
 The overall goal of the training was to enable continuous liaison; mutual appreciation and amicable rapport between the media and parliament in the long term. Immediate objectives of the training were to:

1. Train trainers in the coverage of the parliament; and
2. Impart knowledge about parliamentary procedures.

Topics covered in the training included, “Structure and Operation of the Malawi Parliament”; “Parliament and the Right to Know”; and “Statutory Constraints, Freedom of Expression and Parliamentary Reporting”, among others. The topics, which were trained by five resource people mainly from the University of Malawi, were bound in a five- manual which was distributed to participants.  The Department of Information and Civic Education in the Ministry of Information also participated in the training.

UNESCO Malawi in 2006 and 2007

Advocating and Supporting Quality Education for All (EFA) through supporting the development of national policies, plans and management systems; statistical capacity building; Early Childhood Education, inclusive education; Adult Literacy, Girls in Science Education;  Technical and Vocational Education; and Teacher Quality Education

Development and Marketing of Malawi’s Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage through preserving and promoting tangible and intangible heritage; promoting cultural and community based tourism; supporting the development of legal instruments for copyright and neighbouring rights for protection of indigenous knowledge and practices

Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Renewable Energy through promoting sustainable water management; promoting the development and use of renewable energy; identifying, developing and promoting basic indigenous technologies and supporting follow-up activities to the World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Action;

Promoting traditional knowledge in the preservation of biodiversity through improved capacity in conservation of species and ecosystems; training of specialists in biodiversity; enhancing methodologies for monitoring activities at site level; preparation of nomination files for new sites recommended for enlisting under the MAB programme

Fostering Knowledge Societies and promoting the use of Technology through Multi Media Centres and Diverse Media through promoting the increased use of multi-media centres, information technologies as well as of indigenous media, particularly at the level of the community; strengthening and improving community media; promoting press freedom and facilitating media training

Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and building a Culture of Peace  through mainstreaming Education on Human Rights and Democracy (EHRD) into the Education Curriculum and training teachers and teacher educators; promoting cultural rights; capacity building for reporting on covenants and conventions and strengthening grass root programmes for promoting a culture of peace, human rights and democracy

Addressing HIV/AIDS issues through a cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care and Guidance and Counselling

Specific Projects

Education Sector

• Development of District Education Management Information Systems (DEMIS), pilot phase, Lilongwe District
• Introduction of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and UNESCO Chair in ODL at Mzuzu University
• Training for ECCE Policy Review and Implementation
• Situation analysis in regard to the provision of literacy and non-formal education
• Training of National Experts in mainstreaming of Gender in national education programmes, curriculum and learning materials
• Documentation of good practices in the management of education system in Malawi.
• Sub-regional seminar on Technical and Vocational Education

Science

• Nomination file for Lake Chilwa as a Man and the Biosphere (MAB) site

Culture

• Programme in support of the Gule Wamkulu as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage for Humanity
• Programme in support of Vimbuza Dance as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage for Humanity
• Support towards the Kulamba ceremony
• Design workshops for Crafts women
• Nomination of Chongoni Rock Art Area as a World Heritage Site.
• Support towards the Lake Malawi National Park
• Support towards research on contribution of the Crafts Industry to National economy

Communication

• Support towards the proposed Likoma Community Radio
• Support towards Dzimwe and Nkhota-kota Community Radios
• Training in CD-ISIS
• Science Journalism training seminar
• Support towards World Press Freedom Day Celebrations

For more information, visit www.unesco.org or contact
Maggie Mzumara
Liaison and Programme Officer
Email: m.mzumara@unesco.org