The recent boom in TV channels across the Asia Pacific has not been matched by an increase in opportunities for TV professionals to sharpen their skills. TVE Asia Pacific responds to this need by organising short training courses and workshops at national, sub-regional and regional levels. We focus on story telling and journalistic skills of mid-career professionals, and also include independent film-makers and freelancers.

From its inception in 1996, TVE Asia Pacific has invested in capacity building of television professionals. Accomplishments during the first few years included:

• Training TV professionals at country level through short-term workshops or on-location activity (Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka).
• Organising technical training workshops at sub-regional level.
• Collaborating with other like-minded organisations to conduct such training.
• Following a policy of commissioning local producers and crews for international productions to the extent local talent allows.
• Catalysing other activities that have opened up new vistas and opportunities for producers and film-makers in the region.

Consolidating these practices, TVE Asia Pacific established a Capacity Building Programme in 2003. Its aim is to organise national, sub-regional and regional level training workshops, and support exchanges of television professionals for skills and professional development. These activities will involve mainstream broadcasters as well as independent film-makers and freelancers, with emphasis on mid-career professionals.

These training events were organised during 2003 - 2004:

• Understanding Environment and Sustainability -- for 25 South Asian TV professionals: held in Kathmandu, Nepal, 12 - 18 October 2003. Organised in collaboration with UNEP, UN-HABITAT and TVEAP's Nepali partner, NEFEJ.
• Understanding Ageing and Development in the Asia Pacific -- for 24 Asia Pacific TV professionals: held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 17 - 22 November 2003. Organised in collaboration with HelpAge International and Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)
• Covering Environment and Sustainability on Television: A practical training course for mid-career TV professionals from East Asia -- for 25 Chinese participants, held in Beijing, China: 1 - 5 November 2004. Organised in collaboration with UNEP, UN-HABITAT, Beijing Earthview Environment Education and Research Center, Institute of Scientific & Technical Information of China (ISTIC) and TVE Japan

TVE Asia Pacific also collaborated with IUCN - The World Conservation Union and Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to train 16 Asian television reports on covering conservation issues for news and current affairs, during the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2004. This was under the banner of the Com Plus Alliance.