1. Deadlines
2. General information
   • Introduction
   • Seminar structure/ programme
   • How to submit proposals
   • Copyright
   • Sponsorship
   • Additional information
3. General instructions to authors
   • Structure of the abstract
   • Format of the abstracts
   • Submitting your abstracts
4. Terms of reference for preparation of presentations in plenary and parallel sessions (Download in PDF format)

1. Deadlines

• Submission of proposals (abstracts): 7th August 2009
• Notification of acceptance: 15th August 2009
• Submission of draft presentations: 31st August 2009
• Submission of final scripts: 15th September 2009 
• Submission of final presentations (slideshow, multimedia or other): 15th September 2009 

General Information

2.1. introduction

The ACP/EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), together with its partners, is holding an international seminar on the "Role of the media in agricultural development in ACP countries” (Central, East, Southern and West Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific). The seminar will be held in Brussels, Belgium from 12 to 16 October 2009. Its aim is to:

• Contribute to preparing strategies for building the capacity of the media with regard to access and dissemination of information on key issues for the ACP agricultural sector;
• Strengthen communication links between the media and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector;
• Contribute to the identification of programmes to support the media.

The meeting will be attended by over 150 experts from the six ACP regions, EU national institutions and regional and international organizations who represent the main professions at the interface of media, agriculture and rural development

2.2. Seminar Structure/ Programme

2.2.1. Keynote papers will position the Seminar in the overall context of agricultural and rural development and media in the ACP countries. As outlined in the Themes of the Seminar, these papers will focus on:

• The Role of Media in Recent Assessments and Strategies for Agricultural and Rural Development
• Media and Agricultural Investment
• Capacity Development of the Media
• Media and Rural Communities

2.2.2. Panels in plenary sessions: for each theme (see below), an introductory paper that addresses the topics/questions across ACP regions, and papers that discuss the thematic area from a regional perspective (Africa, Caribbean or Pacific) will be presented. These themes include:

• Media coverage of agricultural and rural development issues
• Communication between media and other agricultural and rural development players, especially rural community stakeholders
• Contribution of the media in agricultural policy, programming and knowledge management
• Capacity of media to address issues of agricultural and rural development

2.2.3. Panels in parallel sessions: 4-5 papers/media presentations per parallel session that address the theme area with regional, national or local examples of media and agricultural and rural development issues:

• Media and climate change;
• Media and gender equality
• Media and water and drylands management
• Media and agricultural extension and learning

2.2.4. Working groups sessions focused on specific types of media (rural radio, press, television including video, emerging new media services) will be organized to discuss and propose actions for their follow-up, including areas for CTA and its partner support

We are inviting proposals/abstracts for papers or multi-media presentations on the challenges and problems of media in agricultural and rural development (panel in plenary session: 2.2.2) and case studies on media and specific issues on agricultural and rural development (panels in parallel session: see 2.2.3). Please note that the selected abstracts will be compiled into a summary document to be distributed to participants before the seminar.

2.3 How to submit proposals/abstracts

• Please follow instructions under paragraph 3 (see link).
• Submit your proposal by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 7th August 2009
• Authors of the accepted proposals will be notified by 15 August. 2009

2.4. Copyright

The content of the proposals will be treated with the utmost confidentiality by the Steering Committee members and peer review panel. In case of acceptance, please note:

• It is assumed that all work presented at the Conference (e.g. slideshows, handouts, flyers, brochures, pdf and MS Word documents, animation and videos) constitutes the original work of the author/presenter, and he/she is the owner of the copyright.
• All presenters and authors will retain non-exclusive intellectual property rights in their work.
• Presenters and authors agree to their Conference materials being disseminated freely on the Conference Web site and by other means during and after the Conference. A statement will be published prohibiting the use of any of the presentations for commercial purposes. Any part or whole of the works used for non-commercial purposes must carry due accreditation.

2.4. Sponsorship

Accepted presenters or panellists from ACP countries may apply for sponsorship to attend the Conference. Sponsorships will be granted at the discretion of the sponsoring agencies and will be subject to the availability of funds.

2.5. Additional information

• For more information see the seminar website: http://annualseminar2009.cta.int

3. General instructions to author

3.1. Structure of the abstract (1 page maximum )

1.Title
2.Author(s)
3.Name and position of the contact person
4.Postal address
5.Name and number of the street
6.City/Postal/Zip code/Country
7.Telephone/Fax
8.Theme [please copy this list below and indicate the main theme(s) addressed by this abstract]

Challenges and problems of media in agricultural and rural development

• Media coverage of agricultural and rural development issues
• Communication between media and other agricultural and rural development players, especially rural community stakeholders
• Contribution of the media in agricultural policy, programming and knowledge management
• Media not well equipped to address issues of agricultural and rural development

Media and specific themes on agricultural and rural development

• Media and climate change;
• Media and gender equality Reduction of primary production
• Media and water management including dry land
• Media and agricultural extension and learning

9.Type of Paper/Presentation

• Oral presentation/paper (with powerpoint presentation)
• Multi-media presentation (video, radio, dramatic performance, etc.)

10. Abstract (Describe the paper/presentation in 150-250 words)

3.2. Format of the abstract

1. Authorship of the paper should be clearly indicated by underlining the presenting author and indicating any additional authors as follows Author. A.B.; Author, C.D; Author E.F.
2. Abstract must be clearly written in paragraph style (150 to 250 words).
3. The title should be no more than 15 words, written in capital letters and highlighted in bold.
4. The document should be formatted on one page as follows: font Arial, font size 11 and justified.

3.3 Submitting your abstract

The abstract should be submitted in electronic format (email) to the following address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please save the abstract document in word format. The filename should be as follow:

• Yearmonthdate_CTAsem2009Abstract_fullname.doc
• Example: 090515_CTAsem2009Abstract_AndreVugayabagabo.doc

If you are submitting more than one abstract, please submit them as separate documents as follows:

• 090515_CTAsem2009Abstract_AndreVugayabagabo1.doc
• 090515_CTAsem2009Abstract_AndreVugayabagabo2.doc