CEJA aims to unite journalists writing about environmental and development issues in British Commonwealth countries, giving them a chance to share experiences, problems and solutions.

CEJA was formed at the 11thth World Congress of Environmental Journalists held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in October 1998. The association began with members from 10 countries and this has now increased to 19 countries, representing more than 100 individual members and media and environmental organisations.
The Dhaka Congress '99was a breakthrough for CEJA, electing a new executive committee and forming a comprehensive constitution and three-year work plan with are outlined below. It also established a permanent secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh and released a new logo. CEJA plans to expand to eventually include every country in the Commonwealth.

CEJA aims to unite journalists writing about environmental and development issues in British Commonwealth countries, giving them a chance to share experiences, problems and solutions.

CEJA was formed at the 11thth World Congress of Environmental Journalists held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in October 1998. The association began with members from 10 countries and this has now increased to 19 countries, representing more than 100 individual members and media and environmental organisations.
The Dhaka Congress '99was a breakthrough for CEJA, electing a new executive committee and forming a comprehensive constitution and three-year work plan with are outlined below. It also established a permanent secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh and released a new logo. CEJA plans to expand to eventually include every country in the Commonwealth.

CEJA Executive Committee 2009 - 2012
New office-bearers of the CEJA Executive Committee.

Chairman:   Soodhakur Ramlallah( Mauritius)

Vice Chairmen (3):
Zafrullah Khan (Pakistan)
Zadie Neufuvelle (Barbados)
Evyn Testoni (Australia)

Secretary General:  Robert Kihara (Kenya)

Assistant Secretary: Soodhakur Ramlallah (Mauritius)
Executive Members (5):
Dharman Wickremaratne (Sri Lanka) 
Quamrul Islam Chowdhury (Bangladesh)
Nina Ratulele (Fiji)
Busani Bafana(Zimbabwe)
Navise Fifita(Tonga)
Dorothy Hatigeva (Solomon Islands)

 The CEJA Executive Committee with some CEJA members at the Dhaka Congress

CEJA Constitution

Article 01: Name and Headquarters

The Organization shall be known as the Commonwealth Environmental Journalists Association (CEJA). CEJA headquarters is located at Sri Lanka. This office may be transferred to any other country as decided by the General Body.

Article 02: Emblem
The emblem and/or motto of the CEJA shall be such as may be decided by the General Body. The General Body shall prescribe the manner of which, and by whom, the emblem and /or motto will be used.

Article 03: Aims and Objectives
Creating and promoting a greater awareness of environmental issues among the people and journalists in Commonwealth member countries; Organizing dialogues with decision-makers in the media with a view to giving greater emphasis to environmental issues; Encourage greater exchange of ideas and information on environmental issues in the region among journalists; Creating a network of journalists in Commonwealth member countries through whom public concern for the state of the environment can be stimulated; Promoting the activities of its members; Organizing international, regional workshops, seminars and study tours for journalists on environmental matters; Encouraging the institution of awards for excellence in the promotion of environmental awareness; Undertaking any other activity that CEJA may consider appropriate; Making CEJA a financially stable, effective, efficient networking organization. Co-operating with other GOs, NGOs, and UN agencies to improve the cause of protection of environment; Providing the public and journalists with information / resources in order to encourage them to promote international cooperation between media professional, by developing contacts between members and by informing them in various ways (list servers, web sites, international bulletins, fields trips) about events or problems they are aware of.

Article 04: Membership -
(a) The CEJA has three categories of members:
(i) Full Membership: open to the national forum of environmental journalists or any organization known by any other name and which subscribes to the aims of CEJA;
(ii) Associate Membership: can be offered to legally constituted international, regional, sub regional and national NGOs or journalists' associations and bodies whose interests are similar to those of CEJA; and
(iii) Individual Membership: shall be open to working / freelance journalists or writers in Commonwealth countries.
(b) Membership of CEJA: Membership of CEJA shall be approved by the Executive Committee on behalf of the General Body. Every application for membership shall be submitted to the secretariat, who shall obtain the decision of the Executive Committee by means of a circular letter or otherwise. If the Executive Committee approves of the membership, the secretariat shall communicate the approval to the member within 45 days of the decision. If, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, the application for membership is not acceptable it will submit the name for the decision of the General Assembly at its Congress.
(c) Every applicant whose application has been approved as aforesaid shall be admitted as a member of CEJA and shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership.
(d) Every member can send as many nominees as it deems fit to participate in the CEJA activities. Full members only have the right to one vote.
(e) Annual membership dues: Members pay annual fees, before the annual Congress. The amount of the full membership and associate membership fee is USD 100 and the enrolment fee is USD 50. Individual membership fee is USD 10 and the enrollment fee is USD 40. The host country of the annual congress or a meeting of the general body will not have to pay the membership fee.
(f) Expulsion: The decision to expel a member be taken by the Executive Committee. However, in cases when a member has not paid his fees for two calendar years will be dismissed.
(g) Resignation: Any member who wishes to resign from CEJA shall give three months notice in writing to the Secretary general and shall pay up all outstanding dues.

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