Rivers Project -Internews Europe Overview
Over 750 million South Asians depend on the transboundary Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basins alone for food, water, and energy needs. These rivers are not only worshipped and revered across the region, but also supports a wide varietyof ecosystems. However, the livelihoods and ecosystems the rivers support are under severe threat from riverbank erosion caused by unregulatedinfrastructure developments, unplanned land use practices and climate change.

Riverbank erosion is increasingin scale and intensity across South Asia. Climate change impacts such as high intensity rainfall, glacier melt, flash floods are intensifying riverbank erosion, and this is further exacerbated by unregulated sand and riverbed mining, large-scale infrastructure development, local conflicts, and the lack of cooperation amongst the rivers’ stakeholders leave the poor, marginalized riverine communities vulnerable

Accounts of riverbank erosion are frequently reported in the region. For example, in the Kutiyabar area in Mahakali region Nepal, wherethe Jogbudha river eroded 700 meters of land, intense rain over just a few days led to riverbank erosion, inundating settlements and putting tens of families at risk. Likewise, Bangladesh, which is home to 700 rivers spanning 24,140 kilometers in length, is facing unprecedented challenges that are threatening the communities living in its drought and flood-prone topography. Coastal residents in Bangladesh are losing their homes and farmland at an astonishing ratedue to riverbank erosion, which affects roughly one million people and displaces 50,000 to 200,000 every year.

In this context, Internews Earth Journalism Network and Oxfam Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) project, are jointly organizing a webinar targeting journalists in South Asia to bring the issue of riverbank erosion to the attention to journalists and media, and strengthen their knowledge and understanding on this issue. This document outlines the Scope of Work of Internews Earth Journalism Network in the delivery of this webinar.

Objectives
• To raise awareness and increase understanding among journalists of the problem of riverbank erosion, its causes and impacts
• To facilitate information exchange between journalists and expertson riverbank erosion in south Asia.
• To share tips in leveraging satellite imagery to support better storytelling on the topic of riverbank erosion
• To motivate and encourage media reporting of riverbank erosion in South Asia

Target audiences

The webinar is specifically targeted at journalists - particularly those who cover South Asia and the environment - working in print, online, television, radio or other media channels.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Internews Earth Journalism Networkwill be responsible for the overall implementation of the webinar. More specifically, EJN will deliver the following tasks:
- Design the webinar and identify the speakers in collaboration with Oxfam TROSA
- Prepare the write up and artwork to introduceand invite attendees to the webinar
- Announce and promote the webinar on EJN’s website, Facebook and Twitter
- Provide an expert on satellite imagery as one of the speakers and liaise with this expert on the content of his presentation
- Provide amoderator for thewebinar
- Provide technical support throughout the webinar
- Facilitate a run-through/rehearsal prior to the webinar
- Host the webinar on EJN’s zoom account
- Live broadcast the webinar on EJN Facebook
- Upload recording of the webinar on EJN website, Facebook and YouTube channel
- Send follow-up email to attendees after the webinar to share additional resources and recording of the webinar
- Provide a short report with a summary of attendees’ data to Oxfam TROSA after the webinar