4 webinars against disinformation on Covid-19 in the Sahel

The world has been in turmoil since the emergence of the coronavirus disease, in 2019, also known as COVID-19. This infectious disease, first discovered in China in December 2019, has rapidly spread throughout every continent, already affecting more than 2.2 million people in nearly 195 countries (WHO, Situation Report 90, 2020).

While the African continent was affected later than others, after a phase of imported cases, it is now faced with an increasing number of cases resulting from local contamination, which implies that the closure of borders alone is no longer a sufficient solution. Populations must adhere to and put into practice the barrier measures to stop the spread of the virus.

In the face of this unprecedented health emergency, UNESCO is committed to contributing to national responses. UNESCO’s Multisectoral Regional Office for West Africa (Sahel), through the Communication and Information Sector, is organizing a series of four free webinars, from Monday 27th  to Thursday 30th of April 2020, on the topic of misinformation and communication on Covid-19.

The goal is to involve media professionals, not only in the fight against the infodemic characterized by the multiplication of misinformation, but also have them contribute in effective communication and information that promotes public awareness and support for preventive measures, especially among people in rural areas and women.

To register, please fill in the corresponding form to the chosen session (see links below), before April 23rd, 2020 at 12:00 (GMT) :

The sessions are open to all, with priority given to journalists residing in the following countries: Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal.

Please note that each session, which lasts about 3 to 4 hours, is entirely autonomous. Each participant can attend only one session. The number of places per session is very limited. The deadline for registration is April 23rd, 2020 at 12:00 (GMT).