The African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), Communication Unit on 27th September, 2021 hosted a virtual session of the Agenda 2063 Media Network and announced a coordinator, regional and country representatives elected after the expiry of the network’s initial mandate granted during its launch in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018. 

The work of the media network is mainly coordinated regionally and nationally and, in this regard, focal points play a critical role in the over-all delivery of the journalists. Through a voting system conducted electronically and managed at AUDA-NEPAD in Midrand, South Africa, a coordinator, regional and country representatives were elected by members for the second term running from 2021-2022. 

Charles Mkoka who hails from Malawi and has published for reputable media outlets globally, such as Thomson Reuters Foundation, Al Jazeera, Environment News Service, Inter Press Service News Agency and other science related publications was re-elected as the network Coordinator. Mkoka, an ardent science and development journalist will be responsible for the oversight and coordination of the entire network activities, including the responsibility to ensure its growth and development. 

Speaking at the session, Mkoka indicated that he is thankful to the members of the network for once again showing their faith and trust in him to assist in coordinating its work.

‘It is an honour for me to serve this group once again in this capacity. I look forward to working with all of you in the different regions of Africa and with AUDA-NEPAD in pushing our continent’s agenda for development forward, towards the Africa we want,” Mkoka told the members during his acceptance speech immediately after the results announcement. 

In line with this year’s African Union theme, Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want,” a quiz titled ‘Know Your Africa’ was also hosted during the event to encourage a culture of knowledge sharing on Africa’s rich heritage. Gabrielle Nina Mitch, a freelance journalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a member of the network emerged as the winner and pocketed a cash prize courtesy of AUDA-NEPAD.

About the AUDA-NEPAD Agenda 2063 Media Network:

Following much discussion and interaction between AUDA-NEPAD, African media, development partners and communication stakeholders, it was deemed important to collaborate on advocacy and awareness of Agenda 2063, through #TheAfricaWeWant campaign. To this end, the Agenda 2063 Media Network was launched by AUDA-NEPAD in April 2018 and its membership base has been steadily growing. 

The network comprises of Africa’s media representatives from different media channels and represents all African Regions and countries. 

To join the network, send an email to Millicent Kgeledi on millicents@nepad.org / Charles Mkoka on cmkoka@gmail.com with your full bio, high resolution head shot and contact details.