Communication

Editorial note: The technical workshop, after some discussion, decided to use the abbreviation SICOM (sustainable integrated coastal management) as a generic term throughout this part of the report. This choice reflects the setting of this workshop as part of the PACSICOM process. SICOM of course embraces many related concepts such as sustainable coastal development, sustainable coastal living, coastal area management and sustainable use of coastal resources.

The technical workshop on ‘Sustainable Coastal Development: The Role of Communication and Education’, after deliberations and consultations, identified various factors and concerns, based on the view that the global ecosystem comprises the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere which are inseparable components and interact with social, economic, cultural and gender factors.

A summary of the proceedings is presented below as a representation of the emerging issues.

Recognizing that useful programmes on coastal management exist in nearly every African country that has a coastal zone, it seems useful that this information be assembled and widely shared.

Recognizing that there is need for greater awareness of environmental issues and the integrated management of coastal zones on the part of the general public, including decision-makers and professionals, and that this must include understanding the environmental and the human sciences.

Recognizing that these problems of coastal management and environmental issues are complex, inter-related and changing, and that successful programmes already exist at several African universities which can provide models for curriculum and programme development at undergraduate and graduate levels as well as in-service training, we identify the following priorities:

In view of the importance of the coastal region in sustaining life, especially for those who live close to it, many African countries recognize that environmental education is the proper vehicle to deal with it and are making attempts at introducing coastal area issues into environmental education. However evidence shows that there is still insufficient treatment of coastal development issues in either social studies or sciences at the primary and secondary school level.

i)	Governments should review their educational policies to include environmental education which incorporates sustainable coastal development by:
	setting up or reinforcing national, interdisciplinary and intersectoral bodies to map out and coordinate environmental education with special attention on sustainable integrated coastal development.
ii)	Governments should initiate and/or reinforce training programmes on environmental education for curriculum developers, teachers and teacher trainers as well as administrators by:
	including environmental education in the pre-service and inservice education of teachers as well as organizing regularly seminars and training workshops with the cooperation of training institutions, NGOs, etc. establishing a focal point for environmental education.
iii)	Governments and other relevant bodies should provide all necessary financial and logistic support for environmental education by:
	making necessary budget provisions for environmental education and seeking the cooperation and assistance of international bodies, agencies as well as the private sector.
iv)	Governments should ensure that there is incorporation of coastal zone issues in environmental education and assure its continuity across all levels of education by:
	incorporating the environmental dimension into the school curriculum in a progressive manner and establishing a mechanism for evaluation and follow-up; developing and disseminating appropriate teaching and learning resources.
v)	Governments should promote regional cooperation and exchange of information and experiences in curriculum development and teacher training by:
	organising on a regular basis fora for exchange of information between experts in coastal management and educators; developing regional databases and utilising resources such as Internet, news-letters, etc.

i)	Situation (status): Lack of understanding of the communication process (horizontal and vertical transfer of technology and knowledge), on SICOM issues. What is to be done: Develop human resources in communication and information processes (collection, processing and dissemination), of the various stakeholders based on Sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) ‘best practices’. How it is to be done:
	Training in participatory communication as well as information management for all the stakeholders (ministerial, media and private sector). Training of media professionals on SICOM issues. Training of community information officers in accessing, processing and disseminating SICOM issues.
ii)	Situation (status): Need for better understanding of the SICOM issues by the media to improve its coverage. What is to be done: Provide appropriate information and available data on ongoing and future SICOM initiatives to the media. How it is to be done: Establish information and coordination structures between information officers for concerned ministries, coastal managers and the media using information and communication technologies (ICTs).
iii)	Situation (status): Need for coordination between the different institutions and agents of the state on SICOM programmes, projects and activities. What is to be done:
	Establish an inter-ministerial committee on information and communication on SICOM issues. Define communication and information policies at the ministerial levels. Define national information structures.
	How it is to be done:
	Establish points of contact between information officers with concerned ministries/SICOM managers and the media. Create an interdisciplinary task force on communication of SICOM issues. Establish fora at all levels of the State for a needs assessment on information and communication of SICOM issues. Develop information networks as recommended in National Environment Action Plans – (NEAPs).
iv)	Situation (status): Need for the active participation of private sector in SICOM. What is to be done: Recognize the crucial role of private sector in the SICOM process. How it is to be done:
	Launch awareness campaigns directed towards the media. Increase information on environmental legislation through publications and programme productions on the subject. Promotion of active participation of private sector through the adoption of ‘environmental citizenship’.
v)	Situation (status): Need for a Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation system to feed the state, the private sector and international stakeholders on SICOM issues. What is to be done:
	Establish information feedback systems (monitoring and evaluation) between local communities, state institutions and UN agencies. Recognize and accept the role of the media in the promotion of SICOM.
	How it is to be done:
	Establish participatory evaluation and monitoring systems between the grassroots communities and the various stakeholders through the establishment of a systematized feed-back flow of information; Sensitize the state, the private sector and stakeholders at all levels on the crucial role of the media in promoting SICOM programmes, projects and activities; Allow the establishment of independent as well as local (community) media to cater for the community needs of information on SICOM issues.
vi)	Situation (status): Need for effective social-cultural integration of grassroots communities in SICOM projects. What is to be done: Integrate community indigenous knowledge, as well as social and cultural values in SICOM problem solving. How it is to be done: Create special fora for communities to share experiences and to express their aspirations regarding SICOM projects to ensure their active participation.

a)	conduct an inventory of relevant experience and expertise, both human and institutional, making full use of existing compilations of information;
b)	develop training and research programmes in the following areas:
	i)	training of trainers;
	ii)	university undergraduate programmes to include required courses on environmental issues;
	iii)	train specialists in environmental sciences and coastal management at the post-graduate level;
	iv)	run special courses for professionals, e. g. Government officials, managers, lawyers, teachers, business persons and journalists;
	v)	establish UNESCO Chairs in sustainable integrated coastal management for the enhancement of regional capacities.

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