Africa: FAJ unveils continental guide to strengthen Just Transition reporting

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has unveiled A Practical Guide to Reporting Just Transition in Africa. The Guide, which is dedicated to equip African journalists and newsrooms with the required skills, practical knowledge and reporting tools that are needed to enhance their reporting on climate change, workers' rights, climate justice, climate finance, renewable energy and sustainable development was unveiled during the just-concluded conference on African Workers' Contribution to Energy Sovereignty, Green Industrialisation and a Common African Position for COP31, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 5 - 7 August, 2026.

Standing from L- R, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, Isatou Keita, Comrade Akhator Joel, Comrade Rose Omamo and Omar Faruk Osman

In presenting the Guide to the participants at the Conference, FAJ President, Omar Faruk said that Just Transition is one of the most important public interest journalism issues of our time because it profoundly affects people's jobs, livelihoods, workers' rights and the future of our economies. Africa, he emphasised, and its people are among those hardest hit by a climate crisis, that they did not create, making just transition an important pathway towards a fairer and more sustainable future. "Journalists are at the heart of that journey, helping people understand the opportunities, challenges and choices that come with just transition. This Guide, equips African journalists with the knowledge and practical tools to report on Just Transition accurately, fairly and responsibly, strengthening journalism that informs the public, gives voice to workers and communities and ensures that African perspectives help shape decisions on the continent and contribute to the global conversation on climate change."

The Chairperson of the FAJ Working Group on Climate Change, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said that the publication was shaped by lessons from FAJ's engagement with journalists and trade unions across the continent. "From Côte d'Ivoire to Kenya and Ethiopia, we have seen growing interest among journalists in reporting on just transition, but we have also recognised the need for practical guidance. Climate change is one of the most complex and high-stakes stories of our time, yet many journalists continue to face challenges in accessing specialised knowledge and reliable reporting tools. This Guide is designed to help bridge that gap by supporting accurate, ethical and evidence-based reporting that reflects African realities, voices and solutions."

The Deputy President of ITUC- Africa, Comrade Rose Omamo, in her statement said that workers are asking what the transition means for their future? This Guide, she said, will not only help journalists explain those changes, but will also help trade unions to communicate more effectively with their members. "The Guide must be seen as an organising tool that will help us to transform our unions. We must be able to organise and bring more members to the unions, because this is the backbone of every trade union, without which we will become irrelevant." She added that as trade unionists, we must ensure that workers have opportunities to reskill and upskill and that no one is left behind. "This Guide therefore should not be kept on the shelves to gather dust, it must be utilised to tell the African story not only in the continent but even beyond the continent."

ITUC-Africa General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, commended FAJ for the remarkable work that they have done in coming out with the publication of the Guide. He said that there is a need for stronger collaboration between journalists and trade unions, in order to ensure that workers' concerns receive greater public awareness and influence policy discussions. "Trade unions are doing remarkable work, but too often their stories go untold. FAJ has produced an important guide that will help journalists better understand just transition and the concerns of workers, ensuring that these issues become part of the public conversation and inform policy decisions. Better media coverage will strengthen public understanding, encourage governments to adopt policies that protect workers and affected communities and contribute to a fairer transition. We should also begin to recognise outstanding journalism across Africa on just transition, because quality reporting deserves recognition", Odigie said.

Developed by African journalists with contributions from experts in climate policy, labour and media, the Guide offers practical reporting techniques, case studies and ethical guidance on covering climate justice, climate finance, renewable energy, workers' rights, information integrity and other issues central to Africa's just transition. It builds on FAJ's sustained engagement on climate reporting and responds to increasing demand from journalists for practical resources tailored to African realities.

Published in English, French and Portuguese, the guide will be distributed through FAJ's affiliated journalists' unions and media organisations across Africa, with digital editions made freely available to maximise access.

The production of the Guide was funded by Mondiaal FNV, the international solidarity organisation of the Dutch trade union movement (FNV), in support of strengthening trade union engagement on climate justice, decent work and the just transition.