The Eco Dialogue Collective has launched a new platform for collaboration between European Union-funded initiatives and local civil society and media.

Dubbed the Green Screen Initiative, the hub will facilitate collaboration in the creation, curation and dissemination of media content in related fields.  

The European Union's ambassador to Namibia, Ana Martins, noted that civil society organisations in affected communities frequently lack meaningful platforms for participation in democratic governments and sustainable development decisions.

Martins highlighted that journalists, as well as civil society actors and community advocates, play a role in deepening their understanding of complex issues to participate more effectively at the national level.

"This eco-dialogue collective training programme addresses precisely this: the need to equip individuals with the tools necessary for evidence-based advocacy and engagement on environmental and energy policy with diverse audiences. Communities need access to reliable and engaging information during Namibia's green transition to make informed decisions about policies that impact their lives."

The Green Screen Project Lead, Dickson Kasote, described the platform as revolutionary, saying it can be imagined as a hub for sharing ideas around research, policy direction, advocacy, and environment and energy issues in local media.

"We will offer fellowships to young and upcoming journalists, researchers, and individuals with a keen interest in policy issues, as well as those who wish to engage in environmental matters, green transition, and issues related to transparency. For reporting grants, we offer opportunities to individuals who are already working in journalism but face resource limitations that hinder their ability to conduct meaningful research and impactful reporting."

The Green Screen is the name of the central hub for content creation, curation and dissemination for the EU-funded Eco Dialogue project.