More awareness and education on environment issues with an integrated approach is a key to reaching the grassroots people.
At a one-day workshop on the Communication Strategy Plan, stakeholders gathered to iron out ways of improving awareness and education of environment issues.
The Department of Environment acting principal officer Sarah Tawaka said the main purpose of the workshop was to create a Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) committee.
“The committee will develop, facilitate, coordinate, implement and review any environment related education and awareness programme and have an integrated approach to activities that reach the grassroots people,” Ms Tawaka said.
“At the moment, environment stakeholders each have their own activities and programmes throughout the year with no coordination from the Department of Environment.
“There has been a lot of activities implemented on environmental awareness but we need organisations to come together to share resources.
“There needs to be more awareness to reach different target audience – public, Government, private sector, students and rural communities. People should be aware of activities impacting the environment.”
A four-year plan will be implemented where the formation of CEPA will carry out activities.
The department of Environment has 20 staff and faces difficulty in awareness and education. It is in the process of signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education for formal and informal education in schools on environment.
Government ministries and non-governmental organizations will also be required for their input through a set up of a database information hub.