Press note – Barcelona, 12th of November 2014 Media & Advocacy for Sustainable Development Global Professional Training Program (MEDEV PT)

1. Press note – Barcelona, 12 of November 2014th
Media & Advocacy for Sustainable Development
Global Professional Training Program (MEDEV PTP)
“If (sustainable) development can be seen as a fabric woven out of the activities of millions of
people, communication represents the essential thread that binds them together”
Development communication is about diversity, dialogue, democracy, development, partnership,
the sharing of information and knowledge management. Following June 17th
roundtable at Media
ICT Cluster of the 22@Barcelona District, the Mediterranean Eco-operation Program (MEP)
organized at CosmoCaixa Barcelona the fourth MEDEV stake-holder’s dialogue within the
International Environmental Film Festival (FICMA) to tackle “audiovisual in promoting sustainable
development”. MEDEV focuses on the integration framework proclaimed by the MDGs review
and the SDGs processes and clearly defined to be a single global framework for development,
delivering sustainable development goals and targets (organized along key dimensions:
environment, economic, social, environmental, peace and security).
These milestone events aim at knowledge activists to promote the reflection on the concept of
"Citizens as Partners” and “Media as Partners” for sustainable development. We involve major
groups, media and other stakeholders to make partnership for achieving sustainable development
visible and accountable at all level of society; generating information of quality, public debate and
opinions on identified keys themes and critical issues:
1. International sustainable development agenda
2. Environmental policy & governance
3. Sustainable Consumption and Production
4. Edpost2015 and Esdpost2014
5. RBA to Development and poverty eradication
6. Water Energy and Food security Nexus
7. Climate change & human mobility
8. Science and technology for sustainability
9. Green growth and Corporate Sustainability
10. Resource efficient cities and human settlements
These stakeholders’ dialogues contribute to the United Nations Open Working Group on
Sustainable Development Goals and discussions (2014-2016) with a specific emphasis on the
role of Knowledge activists (major groups, media and policy-makers). The goal is to help develop
and strengthen their capacity to be acquainted with the SDG and post-2015 intergovernmental
processes and engage in opportunities at the local, national and international levels in an
effective way.
MEP and Partners Institutions intend to draw the map for MEDEV´s credibility, visibility and
implementation, to elaborate its core activities (professional training program, research and
actions) ensuring active involvement of large group of academic and professional staff from
various Partners Institutions and countries toward the establishment of MEDEV´s Global
Consortium made of Higher Education Institutions, Intergovernmental Organisations and
Professional Associations.
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2. The MDG and SDG processes have their champions and critics, we take stock of the
achievements since Stockholm 1972, and we embark in the new initiative to build on and
reinforce successes, while also acknowledging the shortcomings that have compromised
globalism and regionalism: lack of visibility and failure of political goals, and sustainable
development: red and green conflicts.
We need deeper, wider and better coordinated
activities for partnerships, policies and programs
closer to people (citizens as partners). More
coherent partnerships based on co-ownership of
sustainable development. In other words, we call for
sustained, interactive, integrated communication
approach that, over time, will correct information
deficit and ensure visibility not just among decision-
makers but also across the wide spectrum of
scientific community, Media bodies, civil society
organizations, economic leaders and business
community. We urge to consolidate and promote
cooperation with pluralistic, independent Media
practitioners (Media as partners).
Global, regional and local stakeholders recognize the lack of communication and information
experts in view to interact, transmit, inform and communicate with citizens. There is a lack of
knowledge activists to spread out the vital strategic importance of the integration framework
proclaimed by the MDGs review and the SDGs processes (2012-2016) and clearly defined to be
a single global framework for development, delivering sustainable development goals and targets
organized along key dimensions: society, environment, economy, peace and security.
Governments need to train and allocate human resources and strategies aiming at improving
information and communication in view to build a citizenship in knowledge based societies
(sustainable development strategies). Sustainable Development Strategies that use Development
Communication approach can reveal people’s underlying attitudes and traditional wisdom, help
people to adapt their views and to acquire new knowledge and skills, and spread new social
messages to large audiences. The planned use of communication techniques, activities and
media gives people powerful tools both to experience change and actually to guide it. An
intensified exchange of ideas among major sectors of society can lead to the better access to
information, greater involvement of people in a common cause and vital environmental justice.
MEP is establishing, with Partners Institutions
and Global Knowledge Platforms, MEDEV PTP,
a permanent Global Professional Training
Program on “Media and Advocacy for
Sustainable development” in line with the Future
and the World we want. MEDEV´s strategic goal
is to help strengthening all the policies,
programs, and projects that promote sustainable
development. Agendas and Activities where
education and communication, participation and
stakeholders involvement, access to information
and environmental justice, transparency and
accountability, advocacy and public awareness
campaigns, are key and strategic. (Goal, Specific objectives to achieve, and concrete
competences to promote and increase are in the attached document)
We are working to fulfil the needs and mobilize resources related to the project MEDEV PTP but
also to Strengthening the Contribution of Media & Advocacy in the Delivery of the Future
Sustainable Development Goals:
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3. ► Design phase, civil society engagement & stakeholders democracy: workshop "Media as
Partners for sustainable development: A generation of We Can" prior to RIO+20 at Palau de
Pedralbes (Barcelona), in close collaboration with the Union for the Mediterranean, 4th of June
2012
► Design, water-energy-food nexus & building partnership: working session at Qatar
Sustainability Expo within COP18 (Doha), in close collaboration with Qatar Sustainability
Network, 1st
of December 2012
► Design phase, curriculum development & competences: working session and roundtable at
Media ICT Cluster of the 22@Barcelona District, in close collaboration with the Open University of
Catalonia and the Campus for Peace, 17th
of June 2014
► Design phase, films/documentaries/TV programs & curriculum development: roundtable at
Cosmo Caixa Barcelona in close collaboration with the International Environmental Film Festival
(FICMA), 11th
of November 2014
► at present: Visibility and Implementation phase, business opportunities and sponsorship guide
► at present: Dissemination, enrolment and implementation phase: June2014 - May 2015.
(MEDEV PTP has been postponed to 2015, and more details to follow soon. We apologize for
any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Partners Institutions and Global Knowledge
Platforms from USA, Mexico, Canada, Spain,
Catalonia, France, Austria, Germany, Italy,
Switzerland, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt,
Qatar, UAE and Hong Kong agree to join forces
and continue with achieving concrete results as
to highlight on the critical issues,
design MEDEV PTP, decide its knowledge
curriculum development, and to share
the vision to build a strategic and sustainable
partnership. A needed partnership to assemble
a Global Consortium for issues and affairs
related with MEDEV´s credibility, visibility and
implementation (June 2012-June 2015).
We highly appreciate your invaluable contribution to this road map for MEDEV´s implementation
and seize this opportunity to ask you how to receive your inputs and how to integrate in MEDEV
key topic and critical issues you deal with at your Organisation/Institution.
We deeply value your efforts and we solicit you for a continuous sustainable strategic partnership
and support to MEDEV PTP. We thank you in advance for your interest and consideration.
We look forward to hear from you, your invaluable inputs and suggestions are most welcome.
Sincerely yours,
Abbas Ibrahim Zahreddine, director MEDEV
Mediterranean Eco-Operation Program (MEP)
Group Knowledge for Development (GK4D)
TEL : (0034) 636 011 331 (direct) • EMAIL: info@gk4d.eu • WEBSITE: http://www.gk4d.eu/
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