Journalists at NewsHawks produced five stories, five videos and 10 photos through the grant project. The content focused primarily on improving cooperation between the media, civil society and policymakers in how to tackle the impact of environmental degradation, climate change and natural disasters. Reporting took into account the main environmental challenges facing Zimbabwe, including mining, land degradation, deforestation, water resources, air pollution, rainfall variability and biodiversity loss. Several articles specifically looked at issues of pollution affecting rivers and aquatic life, to highlight the threats to people as well as the ecosystem, raise public awareness and jolt policymakers into action. The team also used their reporting to present the key sustainability challenges and opportunities as well as their links to poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

Alpha Media Holdings produced 20 articles, three podcasts and four videos, with the goal of raising awareness on climate change and contributing to a democratic society that is committed to tackling the environmental challenges affecting local communities. The content aimed to highlight the struggles of both urban and rural dwellers, and show how climate change is impacting their livelihoods. It also zoomed in on specific issues, such as mining, and the effects of climate change on tourism. Thanks to the grant, reporters were able to provide more marginalised voices with a platform to tell their own climate change stories while also showing the solutions that they have sought to mitigate its effects.

EnviroPress Zimbabwe Trust used the grant to conduct eight training sessions, which resulted in journalists producing 42 stories, 35 photos and 13 short video documentaries. It also created a network in the provinces of Manicaland and Masvingo, which contributed content for publication. Journalists focused largely on biodiversity and conservation, bringing it to the forefront of the news, and the content produced helped turn the publication into the go-to institution in the region for credible climate change and environmental reporting. The grant project has helped improve awareness of conservation and biodiversity issues, from policymakers to grassroots communities.

CORAH produced articles, podcasts, videos and community live chats, in a series of four each, on various water-related issues. Journalists reported on how to create community rainwater harvesting solutions, how poaching has contributed to land degradation and a loss of urban farming land, and how residents are demanding for the government to complete the Muda Dam to ease challenges at community water points. They also spoke to women and people living with disabilities from the target areas of Mabvuku/Tafara, Hopley, Epworth and Chitungwiza about how climate change has robbed them of clean potable water as well as exacerbated cases of sexual violence against girls, and social challenges for those with disabilities. The intended impact was to encourage active participation by residents in the mitigation of climate change. Residents who participated in the project contributed several strategies, such as preservation of wetlands, engaging tree experts in planting activities and petitioning the local board to regulate the haphazard digging of unsafe water wells.

Twenty-five journalists across Zimbabwe participated in this project, which aimed to raise awareness of the effects of climate change, following the country’s participation in the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Participants produced 28 products, including videos, podcasts, articles and social media posts on climate change issues, particularly rainfall patterns, which have changed dramatically in recent years. By leveraging its online reach and reputation, it was able to lead the conversation on climate change across different communities in Zimbabwe.

Bustop TV produced 20 news articles, five myth-buster videos and five video skits in order to create reliable communication between community members, the government, civil society and local leadership on issues surrounding environmental justice and wetland conservation. Their coverage succeeded in rekindling interest in an often ignored topic, and has influenced the government to take action on environmental management and conservation. The Ministry of Environment and mining organisations have reached out to the media house to assure them of their commitment to monitoring mining activities in Mashonaland West.

Bustop TV is also increasing coverage of community-based environmental justice issues and is working towards partnerships with local citizen organisations to create awareness campaigns on wetland conservation.