As part of the celebration of World Food Day and the International Day of Rural Women, the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) and Africa 21, have launched on 26 September 2023 the PARM Stories Challenge, inviting journalists and media professionals to create a compelling documentary-style video that highlights the stories of rural farmers who have developed innovative initiatives to manage agricultural risks.
More than a contest, the PARM Stories Challenge aims to highlight the special contribution of smallholder farmers that every day, face multiple risks, yet they produce one-third of the world’s food.
PARM invites journalists and media professionals to participate in the challenge and unleash their storytelling power by creating and submitting their videos.
The video should explore the challenges smallholder farmers face, their innovative solutions, and the positive impacts of their initiatives on their productivity and the sustainability of agri-food systems in their community and/or beyond. Particular attention should be paid on women, youth and other vulnerable communities.
The first winner of the challenge will benefit from a field visit in one or more operational countries of PARM/IFAD to gain direct experience of the projects/activities of the United Nations in agricultural risk management. In addition, the first three winning videos will also be presented during an international event as well as the winning journalists.
Participants have until 18 November 2023 to submit their videos which will be reviewed by a professional jury composed of communication specialists from the United Nations, a member of Africa 21, experienced journalists from Nation Media Group, TV5 Monde, Swiss Radio Television and a member of the huge farmers’ organisations FIFATA.
The challenge has officially been presented to future participants during a webinar held on 5 October to share more about all the details regarding the participation’s requirements, technical guidelines and to answer the participants’ questions. The recording of the webinar is available here.
The PARM Stories challenge is a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on rural farmers who, through their innovative actions, contribute to strengthening theirs’ and the agricultural sector’s resilience to agricultural risks.
If you are a journalist or a media professional, join the contest and register today to promote the Farming Champions that feed us.
