Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa

From the Executive Summary

"The objective of this end-term evaluation is to assess whether the project outcomes have been successful in contributing to the goals and purpose of the Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa (RFPA) project. The likely Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour (KAB) changes over the past two and a half years will be examined, among the participant radio professionals in sub-Saharan Africa; related to the manner in which they deal with conflict issues in their programmes. It will establish what, if any, link exists between the RFPA project activities and outputs (such as the guidebooks, website, exemplary programmes, and workshops) and any KAB changes that have taken place. In addition, the evaluation will assess likely impact and extract learning for future SFCG [Search for Common Ground] interventions.

The goals of the Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa project are to develop, spread and encourage the use of radio broadcasting techniques and content that have a constructive impact on the conflicts that exist at many different levels in African societies; to promote knowledge about and use of the techniques already used by Search for Common Ground and others, and to promote the new techniques and skills developed during the workshops.

The anticipated project outcomes are fivefold:

• That the chosen African radio broadcasters will develop and use new and positive ways of dealing with conflict
• That African and other radio trainers will have access to materials which will help them and others incorporate positive ways of dealing with conflict into their trainings
• That African radio listeners will have access to increase in radio programmes which incorporate peacebuilding elements
• That African and other broadcasters will have access to a database of trainers who incorporate positive ways of dealing with conflict into their trainings
• That the participants in the workshops will develop exemplary programmes, which will encourage others to imitate the formats and techniques used.

The evaluation methodology included both quantitative and qualitative methods. In-depth interviews were conducted with registered users throughout Africa, in English and French. Particular focus was given to two sample countries: Kenya and DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo]. A total of 146 respondents were accessed for this study, including 119 respondents to the e-survey, 4 and 92 respondents to in-depth interviews, (62 conducted by telephone and 30 face-to-face during the Kenyan field visit.) The majority of interviewees (65) had already completed the survey before being interviewed for follow-up.

Key findings and conclusions

In Africa a burgeoning radio sector coupled with an increasing awareness that the media can play a positive role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding has meant that the RFPA project is well timed. In spite of the changes being experienced in the African media landscape, the most powerful media – the radio sector – often still lacks the capacity to fulfil its potential role; and particularly so in peacebuilding. The vast majority of broadcasters interviewed and surveyed made a compelling case for the ongoing need to support radio stations to contribute to peace building efforts in their communities. Respondents revealed a significant level of consensus around ideas about the priority of conflict issues, the need for radio to play a responsible role in peacebuilding, and for stations to receive support to fulfil this role. The most significant reason given by members in Africa for joining the RFPA project was to learn about peace building concepts and to have an opportunity to discuss the subject. The next most important motivation was to learn specific radio techniques and formats to use in peace building...

It is the conclusion of the evaluation team that the RFPA project has started well in establishing itself as a valuable peacebuilding resource for African broadcasters. It has had an influence in changing broadcasters' attitudes and knowledge about peacebuilding techniques and formats. This in turn has lead to the beginning of actual programmatic change on-air in Africa, to the benefit of a wide range of listeners throughout the continent.

In its first two and a half years the project has established a highly valuable membership base of broadcasters engaged in peacebuilding issues in Africa. This membership base is potentially a powerful foundation for continued development of networks of broadcasters who are committed to peace, and who can work with each other and assist one another in promoting peacebuilding radio.

The project has been successful in developing an initial range of useful materials, with the guidebooks proving the most popular. The audio materials need further development and, potentially, materials needs to be rationalized in order to prioritize investing in the most useful and desired resources for the membership. The project has begun strongly, and has a solid potential to make a lasting contribution to peace in Africa in the medium and long term."