A pivotal component of these capacity-building activities is the media briefing, designed to foster a comprehensive understanding of ARC mechanisms among journalists.

Recognizing the media’s integral role in advocacy and stakeholder engagement, this briefing underline the importance of their grasp on the issues, thereby facilitating effective communication and awareness-raising among stakeholders, including local communities, about the impacts and benefits of the ARC capacity building activities being implemented.

A primary goal of the planned media training workshop was to bolster the media’s awareness of climate-induced risks and natural disasters, particularly within the context of the African Risk Capacity’s efforts. Overall, the workshop sought to empower media professionals to accurately report on Disaster Risk Management and Financing, as well as ARC mechanisms, thus enhancing ARC’s advocacy through robust media support. Moreover, ARC sensitized the media on ARC capacity building, including contingency planning processes.

Notably, Zambia has encountered significant challenges due to El Niño, leading to extensive discussions about drought impacts. These discussions often positioned ARC in a challenging light, especially since the ARC ARV software had not yet triggered a minimum guarantee for Zambia. It was, therefore, critical to clarify ARC’s stance to ease tensions.

Additionally, ARC has promoted gender mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Zambia through consultancy supported by SDC funding. A gender analysis conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 aimed to identify existing gaps and challenges, offering recommendations for policies, strategies, and activities to ensure a gender-responsive and transformational disaster risk management sector.

Coinciding with the media training, ARC hosted a validation workshop for the gender analysis, engaging key government stakeholders and partners to review the findings and incorporate their feedback into the final Gender Action Plan.