Part One

What is the mission of your organization?
Launched in 1996, the MELISSA Program (Managing the Environment Locally in Sub-Saharan Africa) has the goal of supporting and facilitating the improvement of the local environment through Affiliateship development and knowledge management. In this way, the Program contributes to finding the balance between social equity, economic advancement and sustainable development to ensure improved living conditions and a better quality of life for urban, peri-urban and rural citizens.

What are the challenges particular to media groups and development NGOs in Africa today?
Access and language barriers, literacy.

Are there external factors that affect your project's work (social climate, political environment, cultural practices)?
Insight and understanding of sustainable development as a priority in our target audiences.

How has technology in communication and the media contributed to furthering development in your field of work? What technology services/equipment would help you with your work?
Generating awareness of sustainable development is an essential networking activity of the MELISSA Program. A specialized Network of Information, Education and Communication experts for the Environment (NIECE) in Sub-Saharan Africa provides the impetus and focus to achieve a greater consciousness about the role of sustainable development in poverty alleviation and improved living conditions at the local level. Technology has given access and ability to undertake research easily and inexpensively. Difficulties arise with those we cannot reach because of their access to technology. Cheaper and more accessible technology would make tasks infinitely easier.

Who benefits from the services you provide and how?
More than 1,000 network members in over 45 countries mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The MELISSA Program facilitates and supports the development of knowledge resources through the workshops and the Knowledge Expertise Resource Network (KERN) Forum. To build and strengthen a knowledge and expertise database, the KERN Forum encourages the collection and dissemination of valuable knowledge amongst the network members. Through interactive communication, the network members learn from one another and the base of African expertise is strengthened. We provide information, exchange of ideas, ability to network with others, advanced knowledge of key opportunities, a forum for discussion on issues of mutual interest. The end results are to empower key organizations, to encourage the exchange of information and to build the capacity of individuals and organizations in the field of environmental management and sustainable development, with linkages to poverty alleviation and economic development.

How have you sought to increase the size of your audience or the groups receiving your products and services? How do you fund your project?
Since inception, the MELISSA Program has collaborated actively with local environmental action plans (LEAP) and participatory action learning projects in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe among others. Supported by capacity building, the country-specific activities range from waste management strategies and water service provision to the development of biosphere reserves and indigenous knowledge for sustainable development. Key actions to increase the size of our target audience and groups include networking with organizations with similar interests, participating in global and regional campaigns to raise awareness, facilitating discussion groups electronically, word of mouth, incorporating members' contributions and suggestions into our programs and publications, follow-up with participant's to regional, national or local meetings.

Tell us about your staff — e.g., who are they? How did staff members come to work at the organization, what experiences have brought people together in support of the organizations' mission?
A three staff member Coordination Unit manages the MELISSA Program, supported by a Steering Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee that consist of individuals and organizations from the network. The European Commission and Governments of Norway and Sweden fund the MELISSA Program with administrative support received from the World Bank. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research hosts the Program in Pretoria, South Africa.

Part Two

What is the size of your organization?
Three staff members, over 1,000 network members.

What are your organizational strengths? Weaknesses?
Smallness equates with versatility. Network members are diverse, therefore it is difficult to meet all needs. Backed by large international organizations (World Bank, European Union, and government of Norway). Can be seen as a bias in the international organizations favor. Located in one country when try to serves needs of participates in many other countries. Because of spread in sub-Saharan Africa, efficient use of e-mail and Internet is paramount to success. Has direct limitation for those not linked to e-mail or Internet.

What kind of help does your organization need?
Access to contacts for relevant information and research for substantive environmental and sustainable development themes, funds, contact lists of NGOs, CBOs, local government, training institutions, research organizations in the region.

Do you have data, models or other resources you might be willing to share with other nonprofit groups?
Yes. Our information is to be exchanged.

Have you had any successful collaboration with other media groups in your region? What was the collaboration about? If so, how did the collaboration work?
Collaboration with other newspapers, print and electronic media, by forming an informal network of communicators in the region. Exchange information, especially on training opportunities.

What are the main Internet news/media sites that you use on a regular basis?
BBC world service, Africa online, CNN, Local newspapers online where possible.

What do you feel you contribute to your community?
Different impacts in different communities, because we work in over 45 African countries. We are mainly a source of information for others to use in their research and hopefully contribute to the empowerment of the network members.

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AS THE MEDIA WATCH THE WORLD, WE WATCH THE MEDIA.