AMARC Evaluation Book June-10 2007(1)

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COMMUNITY RADIOSOCIAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENTREMOVING BARRIERS

INCREASINGEFFECTIVENESS

Challenges, Findings, Refle!i"ns,E#$e%ienes, Lines "f A!i"n

f"% C"&&'ni!( Radi" s!a)eh"lde%sAMARC Gl"*al E+al'a!i"n

--.

/"%ld Ass"ia!i"n "f C"&&'ni!( Radi"

B%"adas!e%s


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C"n!en!sF"%e0"%d 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 2PART I 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 3

Chapter 1. Overview. AMARC CR Impact Assessment: Removing Barriers, Increasing

Effectiveness. ................................................................................................................... 6

Ke fin!ings on the Comm"nit Ra!io #$o%a$ Review: ............................................. 6Ke fin!ings on the &ocia$ Impact of Comm"nit Ra!io ............................................ '

Ke fin!ings on Comm"nit Ra!io &ocia$ Impact ...................................................... (

Removing Barriers, Increasing Effectiveness ............................................................ 1) Chapter *. Metho!o$og +igh$ights of the Eva$"ation rocess ..................................... 1*

Metho!o$og Ass"mptions ........................................................................................ 1*

Metho!o$og Concept an! rocess ............................................................................ 1- articipants in the Eva$"ation rocess ....................................................................... 1

&trategies an! Reso"rces ............................................................................................ 1'

/escription of the Activities ...................................................................................... 1( PART II1 Gl"*al Challenges !" C"&&'ni!( Radi" 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 4

Chapter 0 #$o%a$ Review of Comm"nit Ra!io: Barriers an! Opport"nities. .............. *1 Ke fin!ings on Comm"nit Ra!io #$o%a$ Review .................................................. *-

Chapter - Regiona$ erspectives ................................................................................... *6 African erspectives .................................................................................................. *6

Asia acific erspectives ........................................................................................... *6

atin American an! Cari%%ean erspectives ............................................................. * 2orth American perspectives ..................................................................................... *'

E"ropean erspectives. .............................................................................................. *(

Chapter 3: 4he Amman /ec$aration .............................................................................. 01 Pa%! III C"&&'ni!( Radi" S"ial I&$a!1 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 53

Chapter 6 5in!ings on Comm"nit Ra!io &ocia$ Impact .............................................. 06

4he Assessment of CR &ocia$ Impact. ....................................................................... 0 Ke 5in!ings on criteria for meas"ring CR &ocia$ Impact. ....................................... 0' 4he &ocia$ Impacts of CR. ......................................................................................... -)

Chapter : 4he Impact of Comm"nit Ra!io ................................................................ -3

Meas"ring Impact ...................................................................................................... -3 Impact on socia$ change ............................................................................................. -6

4he ro$e of AMARC .................................................................................................. -

Chapter ': h Assess Comm"nit Ra!io7 It or8s, /oesn9t It7 .............................. -( Arg"ments for Assessing Comm"nit Ra!io Effectiveness ...................................... 3)

Recommen!e! Metho!s ............................................................................................. 3*

rincip$es of Assessment ........................................................................................... 33

PART IV1 C"&&'ni!( Radi" P%a!i!i"ne%s Pe%s$e!i+es1 1111111111111111111111111111111 23 Chapter (: Comm"nit Ra!io an! Empowerment ......................................................... 36 Intro!"ction ................................................................................................................ 36

overt an! free!om of epression ............................................................................ 3' 4he ro$e of comm"nit me!ia .................................................................................... 3(

4he !eve$opment impact of comm"nit me!ia ......................................................... 61

O%stac$es to comm"nit %roa!casting ....................................................................... 6* Recommen!ations ...................................................................................................... 60


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Chapter 1): Comm"nit Me!ia % an! for omen a Cha$$enge to 5"$fi$ the romise 63

+ow to a!!ress !iscrimination against women in comm"nit me!ia ...................... 6

Chapter 11: hat ro$e !i! comm"nit me!ia p$a in he$ping to restore !emocrac in 2epa$7 Interview with Ragh" Maina$. ......................................................................... 6(

Chapter 1*: Comm"nit Ra!io in the *1st cent"r: perspectives an! eperiences from

Eastern an! &o"thern Africa .......................................................................................... - Intro!"ction ................................................................................................................ -

Opport"nities an! Cha$$enges .................................................................................... 3

2ew 4echno$ogies an! the 5"t"re ............................................................................. 3 Conc$"sion ................................................................................................................. 6

Chapter 10: omen as ro!"cers of Information. In!onesia Eperience. .................... '

omen as ro!"cers of Information ......................................................................... '

omen ;oice Ra!io in ariaman, est &"matra ..................................................... ' omen


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In!e%na!i"nal B"a%d 8ele!ed in A&&an N"+e&*e% --39 Asia Paifi B"a%ds Of Di%e!"%sSteve Buckley President Ashish Sen President

Aleida Calleja Deputy president Sonia Randhawa Deputy President

Elizabeth Robinson Treasurer Shane Elson Treasurer

arcelo Solervicens !etwork Secretary "eneral "wendolyne #on$id %P South East Asia

avic Cabrera Balleza %P &o'en (nternational !etwork Ra$hu ainali %P South Asiaaria Pia atta %P #atin A'erica ) Caribbean Bianca i$lioretto %P &(! representative

Ashish Sen %ice President *or Asia+Paci*ic atsuura Tetsuo %P East Asiaariano Sanchez %ice President *or Europe Sharon Bha$wan+Rolls %P Paci*ic

"race "ithai$a %ice President *or A*rica Su'an Basnet Coordinator AARC APDaoud ,uttab %ice President

-u'ar Seck !.diaye %ice President La!in A&e%ia : Ca%i**ean Regi"nal B"a%dSony Eusteus %ice President ar/a P/a atta %ice+president

0i' Ellin$er %ice President Ar$entina -livas &(! Representative

Daniel (v1n "arc/aanr/2uez

e3ico Sub Re$ion

AMARC /"&en;s In!e%na!i"nal Ne!0"%) Re$%esen!a!i+es Ricardo Sandoval Central A'erica Sub Re$ion

avic Cabrera+Balleza %P &o'en (nternational !etwork Carlos Rivadeneyra Andes Sub Re$ionSr4 Therese Ana %iera Eastern ) Southern A*rica Cleber Silva Brasil Sub Re$ion

Doris Deny &estern ) Central A*rica 5nica "iordano Cono Sur Sub Re$ionBianca i$lioretto Asia+Paci*ic Sony Esteus Caribbean Sub Re$ion

Ar$entina -livas #atin A'erica and Caribbean Ernesto #a'as Re$ional coordinator

ar$aretta D.arcy &est Europe Representative

ary Rose 0ones !orth A'erica representative E'%"$e B"a%ds Of Di%e!"%sTa'ara A2rabawe iddle East ) !orth A*rica ariano Sanchez President

A$ota ,ovacks Deputy President

Af%ian B"a%d "f Di%e!"%s A$us 6ernan Treasurer "race "ithai$a %P *or East and Southern A*rica ar$aretta D.arcy &(! Representative7ily ,eita %P &est and Central A*rica !adia Bellardi Board e'ber

-u'ar Seck !diaye Trainin$ and Capacity Buildin$ Ale3andru Doro$an Board e'ber

,izito ushizi Technolo$y -**icer Rustal Aliev Board e'ber Sr Teresa Ana %ieira &(! East and Southern A*rica San$ita Basudev Board 'e'ber Doris Dery &(! &est and Central A*rica 7rancesco Diasio Re$ional Coordinator 7ranklin 6uisies -r$anizational Develop'ent

In!e%na!i"nal se%e!a%ia! S!aff /"%ld Ass"ia!i"n "f arcelo Solervicens8 Secretary "eneral C"&&'ni!( Radi"Sonia 6udon8 Ad'inistrative Assistant B%"adas!e%s0ean+Philippe Th9ber$e8 (CT -**icer (nternational Secretariat!ick 7ill'ore8 Project Develop'ent -**icer :;< Bour$et8 suite =;;Do'ini2ue #e$endre8 Accountant ontreal >?u9bec@ Canada8 6C oe Plau$her8 (nternship Telephone >=F


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F"%e0"%d

The &orld Association o* Co''unity Radio Broadcasters8 AARC conducted ina ;; a lon$+ran$e participatory action research seekin$ to identi*y the barriers

that li'it the potential positive i'pact o* co''unity radio and e3plore ways toincrease the e**ectiveness o* co''unity radio in achievin$ poverty reduction8develop'ent objectives8 inclusiveness and de'ocracy buildin$ in localco''unities4

The evaluation process hi$hli$hted that co''unities have sou$ht in co''unityradio a 'eans to e3press their own issues8 concerns8 cultures and lan$ua$es4Co''unity ownership o* the 'edia and participation in pro$ra''in$ has led toco''unication processes that are e**ectively e'powered local actors to achievepoverty reduction8 *orward develop'ent objectives8 encoura$e inclusiveness andparticipation8 peace buildin$8 $ood $overnance and accountability4 AARC and

other stakeholders have contributed stron$ly to the e3pansion o* scattered CRe3periences into a dyna'ic and diverse $lobal sector o* broadcastin$ that hasbeco'e an alternative to co''ercial and state owned 'edia8 which o*tenne$lect representation o* the poor8 the 'ar$inalized particularly wo'en4

The evaluation process has pointed to the lack o* proper enablin$ le$islation asthe sin$le 'ost i'portant barrier to increased e**ectiveness o* CR social i'pact4(t has also revealed the rich e3perience o* CR 'ove'ent and the need toencoura$e e3chan$es o* best e3periences in order to better hi$hli$ht CR sociali'pact4 There is need *or appropriate tools and indicators to evaluate CR sociali'pact that $o beyond in*or'ation disse'ination indicators or s'all project

i'pact in individuals4 So'e speci*ic e3periences point to the need *or *urtherresearch on how to increase the e**ectiveness o* CR4 To do so8 the 'osti'portant challen$e is to e'bed participatory 'onitorin$ and evaluation acrossthe CR network

AARC plays a leadin$ role in the worldwide CR 'ove'ent *or its perception o*what CR should be8 *or its accu'ulated e3pertise and the e3tension o* itsnetwork o* 'ore than I;;; 'e'bers *ro' ==; countries4 The last AARC G&orld Con*erence o* Co''unity Radio Broadcasters held in A''an 0ordan in!ove'ber ;;8 received the *irst *indin$s o* the evaluation process and de*inedstrate$ic lines o* action *or ;;:+;=; seekin$ to rein*orce the CR 'ove'ent by

re'ovin$ barriers and establishin$ conditions *or increasin$ its e**ectiveness4This book seeks to share the evaluation process *indin$s and contribute toincreased debate and awareness o* CR social i'pact4

Marcelo SolervicensSecretary General, AMARC Project responsible

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PART I

Cha$!e% 41 O+e%+ie01 AMARC CR I&$a! Assess&en!6 Re&"+ing Ba%%ie%s,In%easing Effe!i+eness1

This book brin$s to$ether the principal *indin$s8 re*lections8 lines o* action anddocu'entation arisin$ *ro' the $lobal assess'ent o* Co''unity Radio >CR@conducted by the &orld Association o* Co''unity Radio Broadcasters >AARC@in ;; entitled LCo''unity Radio ('pact Assess'ent Re'ovin$ Barriers8(ncreasin$ E**ectivenessM4= This overview is a synthesis o* the key *indin$s o* the

AARC evaluation process4 The reader can also consult httpKKwww4a'arc4or$ *or *urther in*or'ation4

The "oal o* CR i'pact assess'ent was to contribute to the reduction o* povertyby hi$hli$htin$ the barriers that hinder Co''unity Radio >CR@ social i'pact and

seek to better de*ine the interventions that can increase the e**ectiveness o*co''unity radio sector and o* AARC in achievin$ social and develop'ent$oals4

The $lobal assess'ent was a participatory action+research process that involvedG: CR stakeholders o* G countries in re$ional Roundtables8 in a survey8 anelectronic 7oru'8 in AARC decisionN'akin$ bodies 'eetin$s8 and the AARCG &orld Con*erence held in A''an8 0ordan ==+=: !ove'ber ;;:4 The "lobalEvaluation process was the *irst phase o* a participatory 'onitorin$ ) actionresearch process4 (t counted on the participation o* two $roups a core $roupco''unity radio stakeholders includin$ AARC 'e'bers and partnersO a lar$er

universe o* co''unity radio stakeholders includin$ participants *ro' co''unityradios8 acade'icians8 donors and co''unication *or develop'ent stakeholders4(t was an open 'onitorin$ and evaluation process that co'bined the appropriateuse o* (CTs and *ace+to+*ace 'eetin$s4 (t was *acilitated by the web publication o*the outputs o* the di**erent phases o* the process4 (n that perspective theevaluation process respected the basic episte'olo$ical principles o* action+research 'ethodolo$y8 allowin$ *or e3ternal analysts to review the buildin$ o*consensus a'on$ the participants4

>e( findings "n !he C"&&'ni!( Radi" Gl"*al Re+ie06

The the'es o* the assess'ent process included a Community Radio GlobalRevie assessin$ co''on challen$es8 the diversity o* situations and beste3periencesO Community Radio Social Impact in poverty reduction8 develop'entand de'ocracy buildin$ and *inallyO AMARC !""ectiveness Assessment as a$lobal network and leadin$ institution o* the CR 'ove'ent4 The participatory

1 The project # Co''unity Radio Social ('pact Assess'ent Re'ovin$ Barriers8 (ncreasin$E**ectivenessM was supported by the -pen Society 7oundation8 7ord 7oundation8 SwissDevelop'ent Cooperation >SDC@ and Swedish (nternational develop'ent A$ency >S(DA@4

AMARC Community Radio Social Impact Assessment 2007 Pa$e o* =H

http://www.amarc.org/http://www.amarc.org/


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'onitorin$ and research process was oriented by the *ollowin$ principles Toincrease e**ectiveness o* CR in achievin$ illenniu' Develop'ent "oalsOReco$nize voicelessness and powerlessness as key di'ensions o* povertyO

Address the contribution o* CR to accountability8 e2uity and civil ri$htsO Ensurethe *ull and e**ective participation o* wo'enO Be participatory and inclusive o*

'ar$inalized $roupsO E3plore weaknesses and threats as well as stren$ths andopportunities4 &hat *ollows is a synthesis o* the key *indin$s in the the'es4

$%e lac& o" proper enablin' le'islation is t%e sin'le principal barrier to CR socialimpact( The absence o* a *riendly le$islationO the e3istence o* 'edia oppressionand 'ilitary threats are a $eneralized barrier to the develop'ent o* co''unityradio4 -n varyin$ de$rees8 these *actors hinder CR capacity to develop itspositive i'pact in $ivin$ voice to the 'ar$inalized8 in developin$ inclusive andde'ocratic societies where $overn'ents are accountable and people aree'powered to achieve develop'ent objectives4 #ikewise8 the absence o*appropriate le$islation reco$nizin$ the social contribution o* CR creates *inancial

sustainability challen$es that hinder the possibility *or scalin$ up $ood 'odels o*sustainable CR4 (n spite o* this hinderin$ *actors CR develop'ent is deeplyrooted in local co''unities worldwide increasin$ the i'portance o* socialsustainability as the key aspect o* $ood 'odels o* CR4

Community Radio is a ne orldide tier o" radio broadcastin'( Co''unity radiois a distinct 'edia sector and a vital alternative to state owned public broadcasterand co''ercial private 'edia4 Co''unities have sou$ht in co''unity radio a'eans to e3press their own issues8 concerns8 cultures and lan$ua$es4 Thee3pansion o* CR is the result o* the reduction o* diversity o* voices thatacco'pany the *or'ation o* 'edia con$lo'erates that acco'panies the$lobalization processes4

Community Radio is a ne media t%at properly mi)es old and ne IC$s( Therapid develop'ent o* CR worldwide that acco'panies the e3pansion o* new (CTsshows the e3istence o* a positive link between (CT ) CR4 Co''unity Radiosproperly hi$hli$ht that the key co''unication processes underlyin$ thein*or'ation society are related to co''unication ri$hts o* people4 CR shows thebene*its in 'i3in$ old and new technolo$ies with CR4 &ith appropriate capacitybuildin$ CR are able to circu'vent restrictive 'edia le$islation thusstren$thenin$ the CR 'ove'ent4 (t also shows that the key ele'ent in thein*or'ation society is that beyond technolo$y the key ele'ent is peopleco''unicatin$4

Community Radio Sustainability is a 'lobal c%allen'e( (n spite o* increasin$positive e3periences o* socially sustainable CR8 *inancial and technolo$icalsustainability re'ain a challen$e that o*ten distract CR practitioners *ro'dedicatin$ the'selves to a'eliorate radio production8 increase co''unityparticipation and pertinence o* pro$ra''in$4 Co''unity radio *aces i'portantsustainability challen$es re$ardin$ capacity buildin$8 and in enhancin$ local

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ownership4 ,nowled$e sharin$ on best e3periences across re$ions as well asincreased use o* new (CTs can 'ake a di**erence4

Community Radio is part o" a political non*partisan communication process(Co''unity radio is a social actor o* the develop'ent process4 Co''unity radio

can initiate or acco'pany social chan$e and carries responsibility to be e**ectivein *acilitatin$ civil society develop'ent and de'ocratic processes4 Theparticipation o* co''unity radio practitioners and stakeholders in social actionand social 'ove'ents was indicated as an i'portant challen$e *acin$co''unity radio and a key *actor in achievin$ increased social i'pact4

!)clusion and mar'inalisation particularly o" omen The participants identi*iede3clusion o* wo'en as a key social challen$e that can be con*ronted byco''unity radio4 "ender e2uality is a societal challen$e that needs to be tackledi* we want to achieve poverty reduction4 "ender stereotypes carried by traditional'edia are obstacles to wo'en ri$hts and e'power'ent4 Co''unity radio can

e**ectively *acilitate wo'ens inclusion and the reco$nition and e3ercise o*wo'ens ri$hts4 CR can be a key *actor in *i$htin$ e3clusion and 'ar$inalisationthrou$h en$enderin$ co''unity radio both in ter's o* content and access toradio 'ana$e'ent and technolo$y use4

Community Radio +etor&s and &noled'e s%arin' are ea&( Even thou$hco''unity radio has beco'e a $lobal sector8 interaction and e3chan$e betweenre$ions is weak and syste'atic i'pact assess'ent is rare4 A 'ulti*acetedchallen$e *or co''unity radio is the need to stren$then its own networks andco''unications4 There is need to e'bed appropriate assess'ent tools8 todocu'ent and disse'inate $ood practice and to stren$then networkdevelop'ent throu$h institutional capacity buildin$ and co''unications4

>e( findings "n !he S"ial I&$a! "f C"&&'ni!( Radi"

Community radio ac%ievements are not properly %i'%li'%ted andordisseminated . -ne $eneral perspective arisin$ *ro' the evaluation process isthat in spite o* a lar$e body o* evidence on co''unity radio social i'pact8 CRpractitioners and stakeholders have not taken the ti'e and the e**orts needed topresent syste'atically the achieve'ents o* co''unity radio worldwide4

Measurements o" Community Radio Social Impact must be people centred Co''unity Radio practitioners and stakeholders a$ree that 'easure'ent o*

Co''unity radio social i'pact should be peopleNcentred and based on 'ultidi'ensional understandin$ o* poverty4 (n this perspective the key indicators o*co''unity radio social i'pact are related to voice8 e'power'ent and localownership o* co''unication processes4

-uantity indicators don.t tell t%e %ole story( Co''unity Radio participantsinsisted on the *act that 2uantity indicators such as 'easure'ent o* audience8nu'ber o* hours o* pro$ra''in$ dedicated to an speci*ic topic8 nu'ber o*

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or$anizations interviewed tell only part o* the story o* the social i'pact o*co''unity radio4 This said8 it beco'es clear that in absence o* su**icientknowled$e sharin$8 relationship between CR and the donor co''unity tend to'ake the' respond to donor pre+established indicators instead o* clari*yin$ theneed *or 'ore appropriate indicators to render CR i'pact4

-uality indicators are needed to measure t%e impact o" t%e communication process "acilitated by CR( 7or the CR practitioners the 'ain characteristic o* CRis to initiate and *acilitate a co''unication process that allows *or interaction andinterchan$e ability between the listener and the producer4 ?uality indicators suchas li*e stories o* individual and collective social chan$e can render the processon how this co''unication process has a social i'pact4 The 'ainreco''endation is on the use o* participatory 'onitorin$ ) evaluation process4

$ime is a &ey "actor %en measurin' CR social Impact( CR e3periences showthat CR social i'pact is dependent on the ti'e *actor4 The lon$er the period the

'ore easily it is to 'easure the social i'pact o* CR4 "ood e3a'ples o* this is thee3perience o* CR in !epal8 that a*ter =; years o* e3periences8 beca'e acontributin$ *actor in the return o* de'ocracy a*ter the Royal Coup o* 7ebruary;;


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The Roundtables8 the electronic 7oru' and the survey on CR social i'pactconsistently indicated key lines o* action *or the Co''unity radio stakeholdersand speci*ically *or AARC4 The $oal o* AARC as de*ined by CR stakeholdersis to co'bat poverty8 e3clusion and voicelessness and to pro'ote social justiceand sustainable8 de'ocratic and participatory hu'an develop'ent4 (n the pursuit

o* this $oal AARC purpose is to a'pli*y the voices o* the e3cluded and'ar$inalized throu$h co''unity 'edia and new (CTs8 to support popular accessto co''unication8 and to de*end and pro'ote the develop'ent o* CR worldwide4

(n order to re'ove barriers and increase its e**ectiveness the CR sector needs to>=@ Advocate and do policy research to achieve i'prove'ent in the policy8 le$aland re$ulatory environ'ent *or co''unity 'edia and o* the ri$ht to co''unicateas the reco$nition o* CR is the sin$le 'ost i'portant *actor hinderin$ CR positivesocial i'pactO >@ (ncrease knowled$e sharin$ and capacity buildin$ in the CRsector to stren$then the sustainability8 e**ectiveness and relevance o* co''unity'edia *acilitatin$ the appropriation o* co''unity 'edia by e3cluded and

'ar$inalized co''unities to better identi*y8 discuss8 articulate and voice theirdevelop'ent concernsO >I@ Develop content e3chan$e and social actionca'pai$ns in order to a'pli*y the voices o* the e3cluded and 'ar$inalized insustainable develop'ent and to stren$then south+centered perspectivesO >@e**ectively support $ender e2uality8 wo'en ri$hts and voices to co'bat $enderbased discri'ination and to stren$then wo'ens participation in co''unity'edia at all levelsO >See resolution o* the AARC G "eneral Asse'bly@4

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Cha$!e% 1 Me!h"d"l"g( ?ighligh!s "f !he E+al'a!i"n P%"ess

The current book describes the *indin$s o* the *irst phase in a wider strate$icobjective leadin$ to e'bed syste'atic iterative and co'parative 'onitorin$ andevaluation 'ethodolo$ies throu$hout the AARC co''unity radio network4

AARC consists o* distinct le$al and operational entities within a co''onpolitical *ra'ework and accountable to a 'e'bership base o* I;;; in ==;countries4

The 'ethodolo$y o* the AARC LCo''unity Radio ('pact Assess'entRe'ovin$ Barriers8 (ncreasin$ E**ectivenessM builds on the evaluation'ethodolo$y based in theories and practices o* the co''unication *ordevelop'ent co''unity particularly action research that were part o* thebuildin$ o* the co''unity radio 'ove'ent 'ore the I; years a$o in #atin

A'erica8 startin$ with the works by Paulo 7reireI and practitioners such asRa'iro Beltran8 and others4

The assess'ent proceeds in tande' with related work in the *ra'ework o* theBuildin$ Co''unication -pportunities initiative >BC-@ and internal AARCproject evaluations4 (t also draws reco$nition to the results o* a recent on+linecon*erence on co''unity radio or$anized by the (nstitute *or Develop'entStudies >0an+7eb ;;@4D"s@4 (t served as $roundwork *or de*inin$

AARCs Strate$ic Plan *or ;;:N;=;4

Me!h"d"l"g( Ass'&$!i"ns

The project is directly connected to the rein*orce'ent o* $rassroots co''unityradios e**ectiveness in achievin$ social chan$e and develop'ent objectives4

Co''unity radio ai's to e'power co''unities to speak by the'selves8 to $ivea voice to the voiceless and to be a dyna'ic social actor *or social and econo'ic* 4his metho!o$ogica$ presentation is %ase! in Action Research $iterat"re. Among others: Ror O9Brien. An

Overview of the metho!o$ogica$ Approach of Action Research. 5ac"$t of Information &t"!ies, of4oronto, 1(('. A$so see action research !oc"mentation at www.i!rc.ca 0 a"$o 5reire, e!agog of the Oppresse!, 2ew Dor8, +er!er . 1()- R. Be$tran, Comm"nication for /eve$opment in atin America. A 5ort Dear Appraisa$, In C"$t"ra$ Epression in the

#$o%a$ ;i$$age, &o"th%o"n!, 1((0.3 &ee http:www.i!*1.orgcomm"nitra!iofina$report.htm$

AMARC Community Radio Social Impact Assessment 2007 Pa$e = o* =H

http://www.idrc.ca/http://www.idrc.ca/http://www.idrc.ca/http://www.id21.org/communityradio/finalreport.htmlhttp://www.id21.org/communityradio/finalreport.htmlhttp://www.id21.org/communityradio/finalreport.htmlhttp://www.idrc.ca/http://www.id21.org/communityradio/finalreport.html


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$ood4 (t did not involve a traditional AARC institutional assess'ent in itsel*8e3cept the evaluation o* the e**ectiveness o* its contribution to the develop'ento* the co''unity radio 'ove'ent4

The review8 i'pact assess'ent and evaluation o* AARC e**ectiveness ai'ed at

identi*yin$ barriers and increasin$ the e**ectiveness o* co''unity radio'ove'ent social i'pact throu$h proper plannin$8 by $roundin$ aconsultationKre*lection process in the *ollowin$ principles

• -riented to increase e**ectiveness in achievin$ illenniu'Develop'ent "oalsO

• Reco$nize voicelessness and powerlessness as key di'ensions o*poverty

• Ensure the *ull and e**ective participation o* wo'enO• Be participatory and inclusive o* 'ar$inalized $roupsO• Address the contribution o* CR to accountability8 e2uity and civil ri$hts• Re*lect on the 'ission o* AARC and "eneral asse'bly decisionsO

The project closely involved AARC 'e'bers in both desi$n andi'ple'entation4 (t contributed to clari*y the situation in which co''unity radioevolves and the challen$es and perspectives it *aces4 The process will helpdevelop tools *or proper assess'ent o* co''unity radio social i'pact in povertyreduction8 de'ocratic $overnance and 6u'an ri$hts andO how can AARCbetter support and de*end the co''unity radio 'ove'ent buildin$ the conditions*or scalin$+up the co''unity radio sector4

(t is clear that projects i'posed *ro' the outside are less likely to tap into e3istin$co''unication networks8 there is then need to understand the conte3t4 Theassess'ent process Lseeks to overco'e any separation between research andproject develop'ent8 placin$ the evaluation o* project practice8 'akin$ thatassess'ent at the sa'e ti'e both 'ore relevant and 'ore useable4M: Dou$las6ortonH considers that this is controversial a'on$ so'e evaluation theorists8because it challen$es the research principle that the 'easure'ent o* so'ethin$should be independent o* the thin$ 'easured8 but viewin$ evaluation as anintervention turns the table on this classic threat to validity and looks at how thecollection o* data can be built into pro$ra' processes in ways that enhancepro$ra' and or$anizational outco'es4

7urther'ore8 we consider research+action trans*or's the evaluation process in acapacity develop'ent 'echanis'8 supportin$ increased or$anizationale**ectiveness4 This can 'ake the evaluation 'ore cost bene*icial to a si$ni*icante3tent4 7or e3a'ple8 an evaluation interview or survey that asks about variousobjectives o* a pro$ra' can a**ect awareness o* what the objectives or intended

6 Char$es "stha"s, #ar An!erson, an! E$aine M"rph, Instit"tiona$ Assessment. A 5ramewor8 for &trengthening

Organi>ationa$ Capacit for I/RCFs Research artners, I/RC, 1((3, '' pp.


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outco'es o* the pro$ra' are4 (n that sense8 the evaluation is an intervention inthat it can rein*orce what the pro$ra' is tryin$ to do4 The basic 2uestions thatneed to be addressed throu$hout the li*e o* projects

=4 &hat are we tryin$ to doQ4 6ow are we tryin$ to do itQ

I4 6ow well are we doin$Q4 6ow can we do it di**erentlyKbetterQ

These *our 2uestions 'ust be asked periodically durin$ the assess'ent process4 Answerin$ the' in the ways su$$ested produces a syste'atic yet adaptable'ethod *or e**ectively developin$ and evaluatin$ projects4 The idea is toLdevelop a researc% culture within the co''unity radio 'ove'ent4 (* actionresearch 'eans a way o* thinkin$ about the relationship between knowled$e andaction >rather than speci*ic research 'ethods@8 then it can be part o* the cultureo* a project or or$anization4 That is to say8 people can routinely think about whatthey need to know8 what they do know8 what knowled$e their activities produce8

how they can $o about knowin$ 'ore8 and how they relate their knowled$e toplannin$ *uture activities4MG

Me!h"d"l"g( C"ne$! and P%"ess

The 'ethodolo$y o* the project LCommunity Radio Impact !valuation3 removin'barriers, increasin' e""ectiveness5, is Action Research4 Action research is asyste'atic *or' o* in2uiry that is collective8 collaborative8 sel*+re*lective8 critical8and undertaken by the participants o* the in2uiry4=; Action research8 so'eti'escalled practitioner research8 is a re*lective investi$ation o* a personal interest8proble' or challen$e4 Co''unication *or develop'ent== and social chan$e'easure'ents are included in this perspective4=

G%"'nd@*asedThe *irst characteristic is that the i'portance $iven to pra3is and the i'portanceo* conte3t per'its participatory and $round+based evaluation4 The processbe$ins with the develop'ent o* 2uestions8 which 'ay be answered by thecollection o* data4 Action i'plies that the practitioner will be actin$ as thecollector o* data8 the analyst8 and the interpreter o* results4 Action research leadsto re*"rame a problemO then e3peri'ents are per*or'ed to brin$ about outco'esthat are subjected to *urther analysis4 Re*lection+in+action reco$nizes that there islittle or no separation o* research *ro' practice8 little or no separation o* knowin$and doin$4=I This 'ethodolo$y results in learnin$ by doin$ developin$

(


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capabilities *or 'onitorin$8 i'pact assess'ent and evaluation by the CRpractitioners and stakeholders4 The 'ethodolo$y is open to realities in the$round as it reco$nizes the i'portance o* conte3t and its in*luence oninstitutional per*or'ance4

P%"ess a$$%"ahThe second aspect is that Action Research is iterative and cyclical and is si'ilarin nature to the nu'erical co'putin$ techni2ue known as successiveappro)imation + the idea is to close in upon a *inal $oal or outco'e by repeated

iterations4 This characteristic allows *or process intervention throu$h knowled$esharin$ leadin$ to deeper understandin$4 Action research starts withunderstandin$ o* a proble' leadin$ to an intervention plan that brin$s the

Action4= Durin$ the action8 pertinent observations are collected in various *or's4>onitorin$ the i'ple'entation by 6bservation(@ The new interventionalstrate$ies are carried out8 and the cyclic process repeats8 continuin$ until asu**icient understandin$ o* >or i'ple'ent able solution *or@ the proble' isachieved Re"lection and Revision8( A representation o* an AR protocol by,e''is is provided in 7i$ure ==


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re*ers to usin$ evaluation lo$ic and processes to help people in pro$ra's andor$anizations learn to think evaluatively4 This is distinct *ro' usin$ thesubstantive *indin$s in an evaluation report4 (ts e2uivalent to the di**erencebetween learnin$ how to learn versus learnin$ substantive knowled$e aboutso'ethin$4 #earnin$ how to think evaluatively is learnin$ how to learn4 #earnin$

to think and act evaluatively can have an on$oin$ i'pact8 especially whereevaluation is built into on$oin$ or$anizational develop'ent4 %alues are the*oundations o* $oals4 By providin$ a 'echanis' and process *or clari*yin$ valuesand $oals8 evaluation has an i'pact even be*ore data are collected4 #ikewise8the process o* desi$nin$ an assess'ent o*ten raises 2uestions that have ani''ediate i'pact on pro$ra' i'ple'entation4 Such e**ects can be 2uitepronounced8 as when the process o* clari*yin$ the pro$ra's lo$ic 'odel ortheory+o*+action leads to chan$es in delivery well be*ore any evaluative data areever collected4

The "n!e#! and ins!i!'!i"nal assess&en! a$$%"ah

The action research 'ethodolo$y allows *or an assess'ent on the le$al andcultural conte3t and its dyna'ic in*luence on the e3istence and develop'ent o*co''unity radios in di**erent re$ions o* the world4 Precisely one o* the key

AARC objectives is to contribute to the creation o* enablin$ environ'ents *irco''unity radio4 Thus8 #usthaus and others closely link the per*or'ance o*-r$anizations to the environ'ent conditions as su$$ested4=

The key di'ensions o* the e3ternal environ'ent in*luencin$ or$anizations are thead'inistrative8 le$al8 political8 socio+cultural8 econo'ic8 technolo$ical8 andstakeholder conte3ts4

16 Char$es "stha"s, Marie@+J$ne A!rien, #ar An!erson, an! 5re! Car!en Enhancing Organisationa$ erformance. A

4oo$%o for &e$f@assessment, I/RC 1(((, 1-) pp.



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Each o* these co'ponents o* the e3ternal environ'ent can also in*luence thee**iciency o* co''unity radios as individual or$anizations as well as theco''unity radio 'ove'ent as a $lobal network4 (n this perspective the e3istenceo* un*riendly le$al environ'ents that do o not carry reco$nition *or CR beco'ebarriers to be re'oved with local or $lobal interventions so to increase the

potentially positive in*luence o* co''unity radio in poverty alleviation4=:

Pa%!ii$an!s in !he E+al'a!i"n P%"ess

The participants in the evaluation process were relevant actors o* theco''unications *or develop'ent and co''unity radio sector8 ultilateral-r$anizations8 !"-s8 Donor Co''unity and acade'ics4 They consist on two'ain $roups o* participants N the Core $roup >AARC decision 'akin$ andoperational bodies8 e3ternal advisors and partners a'on$ CR stakeholders@O andthe Stakeholders "roup >*or'ed by CR 'e'bers8 co''unication anddevelop'ent stakeholders and acade'ics@4

The C"%e G%"'$The Core "roup consisted o* relevant co''unication *or develop'ent partners8CR stakeholders and the decision+'akin$ structures and operational sta** o*

AARC >(nternational Board8 Re$ional Boards and partners at re$ional level>rou$hly ;; participants@4 This $roup8 consistin$ on relevant actors o* theco''unity radio8 co''unity 'edia and !"- 'ove'ents interacted in *ace+to+*ace roundtables and electronic discussions and 'eetin$s4 (t acted as the *oru'*or knowled$e $atherin$ and critical review to de*ine speci*ic lines o* action tore'ove barriers and increase the e**ectiveness o* CR social i'pact4

The S!a)eh"lde%s G%"'$

The Stakeholders "roup is *or'ed by people interested in co''unity radioincludin$ $rass+roots 'e'bers o* AARC8 co''unity radio practitioners8co''unication *or develop'ent practitioners8 !"- o**icials8 donors8 $overn'ento**icials8 private sector partners4 Their participation in the *irst instance will consistin participatin$ in the roundtables8 electronic discussions8 in the survey as well asin the AARC G world con*erence held in A''an8 0ordan ==+=: !ove'ber4Their purpose is to validate and criti2ue and serve as e2uilibriu' to the Core"roup4

CD $%"e!s and C"&&'ni!( Radi" Ta%ge!ed Resea%hBesides the discussions by the Core and sta&e%olders 'roup8 there was speci*ic

i'pact assess'ent research on AARC chosen projects to$ether withco''unity radios and CD practitioners at co''unity8 country8 and internationallevels4 So'e o* the selected articles included in this book are part o* thatresearch8 related to $ood e3periences4 (t also involved review o* so'e E'ails listdebates as the one conducted by (d==HO they are also linked to the &orkshopor$anized by AARC SDC and !ESC- *or the &orld Con$ress *or

1 Kanchan +"man, Comm"nit Ra!io in In!ia: A &t"!, &choo$ of Comm"nication, niversit of +!era%a!, *))31' &ee http:www.i!*1.orgcomm"nitra!iofina$reportp!f.htm$

AMARC Community Radio Social Impact Assessment 2007 Pa$e =: o* =H

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Co''unication *or Develop'ent held in Ro'e8 (taly in -ctober ;;4=G (tinvolves also the speci*ic discussion on the i'pact assess'ent bein$ carried byBuildin$ Co''unications -pportunities >BC-@ Alliance4; (t also includes areview o* the i'pact assess'ent literature and research papers prepared bye3ternal advisors as knowled$e sharin$ tools *or co''unity radio practitioners4

S!%a!egies and Res"'%es

The 'ethodolo$y o* the #Community Radio Social Impact Assessment3Removin' 4arriers Increasin' !""ectiveness5 project involves resources andstrate$ies leadin$ to ensure a participatory action+oriented research process8centered in learnin$ by doin$ thus developin$ 'onitorin$8 i'pact assess'entand evaluation capacities o* the CR practitioners and stakeholders4 (t also looks*or supportin$ the lar$er Co''unication *or Develop'ent co''unityO donorsand other stakeholders to better understand develop'ent processes4 The *irstphase o* the consultation8 review and evaluation process included resources andstrate$ies consistin$ on the *ollowin$

Participation 9 :noled'e s%arin' Built on the e3perience o* the participantstakin$ into account the e'powerin$ e**ect o* knowled$e sharin$ betweenco''unity radio practitioners8 co''unications *or develop'ent co''unity anddonorsO

;iversity reco'nition Considered the diversity o* e3periences o* co''unity radio8each co''unity re2uires an approach adapted to their needs in an speci*icsocial8 econo'ic8 political and cultural environ'ent4 (t will seek to develop'odels *or i'pact assess'ent that can be used in the *utureOInteractivity (t 'ade e3tensive use o* interactive *ace+to+*ace and on+line

'echanis's such as Roundtables8 telecon*erences8 electronic discussions8websitesO

Cumulative &noled'e (t reviewed8 re*lected and shared e3istin$ evaluative'aterial that has been produced in recent years o* 2ualitative and 2uantitynatureO

!)ternal Support and Screenin' 4 The 'ethodolo$y also included support *ro'e3ternal advisors on evaluation process4 They were 'ainly *ro' theCo''unication *or Social Chan$e Consortiu'4

;e"inition o" 'oals purpose, objectives and strate'ic lines o" action $uidin$ thecollective knowled$e accu'ulated durin$ the $lobal assess'ent per'ittin$ to*urther develop 'onitorin$ and evaluation tools *ro' the actions to re'ovebarriers and increase the e**ectiveness o* CR4

1( &ee: http:www.amarc.orgin!e.php7pLor$!CongressonComm"nicationfor/eve$opment$LE2 *) &ee: www.%coa$$iance.org

AMARC Community Radio Social Impact Assessment 2007 Pa$e =H o* =H

http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Congress_on_Communication_for_Development&l=ENhttp://www.bcoalliance.org/http://www.bcoalliance.org/http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Congress_on_Communication_for_Development&l=ENhttp://www.bcoalliance.org/


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Des%i$!i"n "f !he A!i+i!ies

The three the'es >CR $lobal review8 CR social i'pact evaluation and AARCand CR 'ove'ent e**ectiveness@ or$anized the participatory action researchprocess en$a$ed G: CR stakeholders o* G countries4 7irst o* all in discussionsand knowled$e sharin$ activities >Round Tables8 Electronic 7oru'8 Survey8 and

research@ leadin$ to the production o* docu'ents intended to e'bed evaluationprocesses leadin$ to re'ove barriers and increase the e**iciency o* theCo''unity Radio ove'ents and o* AARC in poverty reduction anddevelop'ent challen$es4 Secondly in the debates on the results o* the CR Social('pact assess'ent process and in policy de*initions on how to re'ove barriersand increase the e**ectiveness o* CR at the AARC G &orld Con*erence o* CRBroadcasters held in A''an *ro' ==+=: !ove'ber ;;4 The activities o* theproject were

GaH Roundtables4 The project en$a$ed I CR practitioners andstakeholders in *ace to *ace to *ace re$ional Roundtables where there wasdiscussion on CR review in the re$ionO social i'pact o* CR and what can

AARC doQ >The roundtables were attended by e3ternal advisors *ro'the Co''unication *or Social Chan$e Consortiu'@

a. The Asia $aifi R"'nd!a*le was held in Colo'bo Sri #anka onay


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G%H Electronic Forum( =G CR practitioners and stakeholders participated ininteractive and 'ultilin$ual discussions articulated around the reactions tothe synthesis docu'ents produced *ro' the Roundtable *ace+to+*acephase4 There were three consecutive discussions on the sa'e threetopics o* the Round tables4

a4 CR review in the re$ionOb4 Social i'pact o* CR andOc4 &hat can AARC doQ

GcH Community Radio Social Impact survey 4 =G CR practitioners andstakeholders *ro' : countries answered the 2uestionnaire on the threethe'es discussed in the Roundtables4

a. Research activities on Best experiences, CR practitionerspresentations were selected and so'e o* the' were included inthis book >See Part I@4

%. Bibliography and evaluation tools4 The e3ternal advisorscontributed to the action research process with docu'ents on

social i'pact evaluation o* CR includin$8 overview8 'ethodolo$iesand biblio$raphy4G!H Synthesis Meeting o !M!RC decision"ma#ing bodies on the results

o the pro$ect %Community Radio Social Impact !ssessment&Removing Barriers, Increasing Eectiveness'. IH 'e'bers o*decision+'akin$ bodies o* AARC >includin$ the (nternational board andthe re$ional boards o* AARC@ 'et on !ove'ber =; in A''an8 0ordan8to discuss the results o* the Evaluation process and to e3plore policies *orbetter $overnance o* AARC structures and the need *or betterhar'onization between the di**erent bodies o* AARC in order to increase

AARC e**ectivenessO

GeH !M!RC ( )orld Conerence o Community Radio Broadcasters I=CR stakeholders *ro' G countries >besides the AARC decision 'akin$bodies@ participated in the Gth world $atherin$ o* CR broadcasters4 Theparticipants analyzed in several workshops the synthesis o* the $lobalevaluation process and decided on policies and the strate$ic plan ;;:+;=; arisin$ *ro' the $lobal evaluation4 There were i'portant re'arks onhow to e'bed the evaluation process throu$hout the AARC and CRnetwork4

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PART II1 Gl"*al Challenges !" C"&&'ni!( Radi"4

Cha$!e% 5 Gl"*al Re+ie0 "f C"&&'ni!( Radi"6 Ba%%ie%s and O$$"%!'ni!ies1

nder $lobalization8 the world has beco'e a Lvilla$eM characterized by anecono'ic8 social and cultural divide in the !orth as well as in the South thattranslates itsel* into a de'ocratic de*icit8 ine2uitable public policies8 acutedevelop'ent challen$es8 inade2uate distribution o* wealth and opportunities8e3clusion o* wo'en and the poor8 cultural tensions8 'i$rations and a series o*open or latent con*licts4 Concentration and corporate ownership o* 'edia8includin$ the e3istence o* lar$e con$lo'erates8 has lead to prioritize custo'erand pro*it interest resultin$ in the dilution o* the critical role o* 'edia in in*or'in$citizens and holdin$ $overn'ents and econo'ic entities accountable4

These challen$es o* $lobalization tend to present the'selves a**ectin$ in varyin$de$rees re$ions8 countries and local co''unities4 The co''unicationprocesses *acilitated by CR show new and dyna'ic responses to thesechallen$es that arise *ro' the co''unities the'selves and8 throu$h networkin$with social 'ove'ents8 at the re$ional and international levels4 Co''unitieshave sou$ht in co''unity radio a 'eans to e3press their own issues8 concerns8cultures and lan$ua$es4 The continuous stru$$le *or 'ore de'ocratic syste's o*$overnance and accountability8 $lobally and particularly in #atin A'erica8 A*ricaand Asia have paved the way *or the proli*eration o* co''unity radios worldwide4CR has beco'e a new tier o* co''unications and has beco'e a new social

actor *or develop'ent that is contributin$ speci*ically to e'power'ent o* wo'enand the e3cluded as well as social chan$e conducin$ to de'ocracy buildin$8$ood $overnance and accountability8 poverty reduction and the achieve'ent o*develop'ent $oals4

Co''unity Radio contributes to co''unication political processes that *ostersocial chan$e4 Co''unity radios *unda'ental role in poverty reduction andde'ocratization is evidenced in the 'ultiplicity o* voices aired8 the nu'bers o*public service announce'ents and pro$ra's that are provided at little or notcostO reportin$ by and on underserved co''unitiesO in depth covera$e o* politicalevents includin$ those by s'all partiesO serious discussion o* issues ne$lected by

corporate 'edia such as labor 'ove'entsO low and *ull power stations in ruralco''unities and urban nei$hborhoodsO and lobbyin$ *or a 'ore de'ocratized'edia $enerally

*1 art 1, presents the 8e fin!ings an! !oc"mentation on the sit"ation of Comm"nit Ra!io wor$!wi!e

form"$ate! an! "se! % CR sta8eho$!ers !"ring the or$! Eva$"ation of Comm"nit Ra!io: Removing

Barriers, Increasing Efficienc activities, inc$"!ing Regiona$ Ro"n!ta%$es, E$ectronic 5or"m /isc"ssions,

e$ectronic &"rve an! AMARC ( or$! Conference.



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Co''unity Radio su**ers8 everywhere and in varyin$ de$rees dependin$ on there$ion or country8 either situations o* oppression8 o* 'ilitary threats or censorshipand associates itsel* to social 'ove'ents and builds coalitions *orco''unication ri$hts and *reedo' o* e3pression with other 'edia andKor withhu'an ri$hts activists4 (n spite o* increasin$ positive evidence on the positive

i'pact o* CR8 a co''on barrier to the develop'ent o* Co''unity Radioworldwide is8 either the absence8 shortco'in$s or inade2uacy o* le$islation andre$ulation *or co''unity radio at all levels >spectru' allocation8 *re2uencyallocation8 co''unity radio de*inition in law8 support to co''unity radio@4n*riendly le$al *ra'eworks are a constant challen$e to the sector so that the'ain characteristics o* co''unity radio need to be constantly hi$hli$hted anddeveloped4

Thus8 CR political8 social ) cultural reco$nition and per*or'ance varies *ro're$ion to re$ion leadin$ CR and co''unity 'edia practitioners to rein*orcediverse social 'ove'ents and country a$enda8 includin$ on develop'ent issues8

civil society rein*orce'ent8 wo'en ri$hts8 cultural diversity8 peace buildin$ a'on$others4 But8 in spite o* di**erences due to le$al *ra'es and re$ulations and thechallen$es o* country environ'ent8 co''unity radio is universally built alon$ not*or pro*it objectives8 local co''unity ownership8 participatory and pro$ressivepro$ra''in$ driven by co''unity challen$es4

&hat is Co''unity RadioQ !ot the 'edia 'ovin$ into co''unity but theco''unity 'ovin$ into the 'edia4 &e >Co''unity edia@ are not the 'edia butthe *acilitators o* social 'ove'ents8 the voice o* civil society4 7urther'ore8 localownership and appropriation o* CR are closely linked to participation in decision+'akin$ processes and the needs o* the co''unity deserved4 -ne o* thestren$ths o* co''unity radios8 is their %ori1ontality and diversity 8 which showsthat they are built *ro' the botto' up8 thus re*lectin$ a network o* 'ultiplelan$ua$es8 and the e3pression o* di**erences4 This diversity actualizes therepresentation o* the e3cluded8 the survival o* historic 'e'ories8 o* culturaldiversity and an e2uitable approach to develop'ent4

Co''unity radio can initiate or acco'pany social chan$e and carriesresponsibility to be e**ective in *acilitatin$ civil society develop'ent andde'ocratic processes4 The participation o* co''unity radio practitioners andstakeholders in social action and social 'ove'ents was indicated all alon$ the$lobal assess'ent o* CR as an i'portant challen$e *acin$ co''unity radio anda key *actor in achievin$ increased social i'pact4

A*ter decades and centuries8 and several wo'ens con*erences8 in 'any parts o*the world8 wo'ens ri$hts have been reco$nized and opportunities *or wo'enhave e3panded4 6owever8 $ender e2uality is *ar *ro' bein$ achieved4 CR is akey instru'ent in advocatin$ wo'ens ri$hts and practicin$ $ender e2uality4 Theparticipants identi*ied the e3clusion o* wo'en as a key social challen$e *orco''unity radio4 "ender e2uality is a societal challen$e that needs to be tackled



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i* we want to achieve poverty reduction4 "ender stereotypes carried by traditional'edia are obstacles to wo'en ri$hts and e'power'ent4 Co''unity radio cane**ectively *acilitate wo'ens inclusion and the reco$nition and e3ercise o*wo'ens ri$hts4 En$enderin$ co''unity radio both in ter's o* content and inaccess to radio 'ana$e'ent and technolo$y is a *unda'ental develop'ent and

de'ocratic challen$e4Co''unity radio is about politics8 in ter's o* de'ocratization o* societies but notin ter's o* partisan politics8 as CR 'ust 'aintain their independence andautono'y *ro' $overn'ents and political parties4 The role o* co''unity radio in$ood $overnance8 accountability and de'ocratization was hi$hli$hted in relationto several e3periences4

Co''on opportunities bein$ used by co''unity radios are the bene*its thatco'e *ro' 'i3in$ LoldM and LnewM in*or'ation technolo$ies4 The people centeredapproach leads to the use o* the appropriate co'bination o* technolo$ies

allowin$ capacity buildin$ and knowled$e sharin$ conducin$ to voice *or thee3cluded8 'ar$inalized and buildin$ citizenship4 (t also shows that the crornerstone in a de'ocratic and inclusive in*or'ation society is $oes well beyondtechnolo$y8 it about people co''unicatin$4

The sustainability o* local and speci*ic CR is a recurrent challen$e in allcontinents8 to the point that it 'ay hinder CR social i'pact4 Social sustainabilityo* co''unity radio is a reality closely linked to local ownership8 but socialsustainability also raises issues about capacity buildin$ and knowled$e sharin$to ensure co''unity participation in the survival o* co''unity radio e3periences4The sustainability o* local and speci*ic CR is related to its capacity to haverelevant8 participatory and creative pro$ra''in$ that attracts the audience andencoura$es access to the 'edia in their own lan$ua$e8 and is alternative anddistinct *ro' co''ercial and public broadcastin$4 Sustainability is alsodependent on *inancial support otherwise it distracts CR practitioners *ro'dedicatin$ the'selves to a'eliorate radio production8 increase co''unityparticipation and pertinence o* pro$ra''in$4 The proposal is8 as it is done inso'e countries8 the unconditional public *undin$ justi*ied by the social nature o*co''unity radios8 ensures CR basic *inancial sustainability4 Sustainability is alsorelated to curtailin$ speci*ic $eo$raphical and technolo$ical challen$es tobroadcastin$ and to access to the 'edia includin$ the necessary capacitybuildin$ to *acilitate local co''unities ownership o* the 'edia4

CR e3periences8 notably $ood e3periences are not hi$hli$hted and su**er *ro'their local and speci*ic characteristics renderin$ scalin$ up 'ore di**icult47urther'ore and even thou$h co''unity radio has beco'e a $lobal sector8 theinteraction and knowled$e sharin$ between re$ions is weak and syste'atici'pact assess'ent is rare4 A 'ulti*aceted challen$e *or co''unity radio is theneed to stren$then its own networks and co''unications4 There is need toe'bed appropriate assess'ent tools8 to docu'ent and disse'inate $ood

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practice and to stren$then network develop'ent throu$h institutional capacitybuildin$ and co''unications4 -ne $eneral perspective arisin$ *ro' theevaluation process is that in spite o* a stron$ body o* evidence on co''unityradio social i'pact8 CR practitioners and stakeholders have not taken the ti'eand the e**orts needed to present syste'atically the achieve'ents o* co''unity

radio worldwide>e( findings "n C"&&'ni!( Radi" Gl"*al Re+ie0

$%e lac& o" proper enablin' le'islation is t%e sin'le principal barrier to CR socialimpact( The absence o* a *riendly le$islationO the e3istence o* 'edia oppressionand 'ilitary threats are a $eneralized barrier to the develop'ent o* co''unityradio4 -n varyin$ de$rees8 these *actors hinder CR capacity to develop itspositive i'pact in $ivin$ voice to the 'ar$inalized8 in developin$ inclusive andde'ocratic societies where $overn'ents are accountable and people aree'powered to achieve develop'ent objectives4 #ikewise8 the absence o*appropriate le$islation reco$nizin$ the social contribution o* CR creates *inancial

sustainability challen$es that hinder the possibility *or scalin$ up $ood 'odels o*sustainable CR4 (n spite o* this hinderin$ *actors CR develop'ent is deeplyrooted in local co''unities worldwide hi$hli$htin$ the i'portance o* socialsustainability as the key aspect o* $ood 'odels o* CR4

Community Radio is a ne orldide tier o" radio broadcastin'( Co''unity radiois a distinct 'edia sector and a vital alternative to state owned publicbroadcastin$ and co''ercial private 'edia4 Co''unities have sou$ht inco''unity radio a 'eans to e3press their own issues8 concerns8 cultures andlan$ua$es4 The e3pansion o* CR is the result o* the reduction o* diversity o*voices that acco'pany the *or'ation o* 'edia con$lo'erates that acco'panies

the $lobalization processes4

Community Radio is a ne media t%at properly mi)es old and ne IC$s( Therapid develop'ent o* CR worldwide that acco'panies the e3pansion o* new (CTsshows the e3istence o* a positive link between (CT ) CR4 Co''unity Radiosproperly hi$hli$ht that the key co''unication processes underlyin$ thein*or'ation society are related to co''unication ri$hts o* people4 CR shows thebene*its in 'i3in$ old and new technolo$ies with CR4 &ith appropriate capacitybuildin$ CR are able to circu'vent restrictive 'edia le$islation thusstren$thenin$ the CR 'ove'ent4

Community Radio Sustainability is a 'lobal c%allen'e( (n spite o* increasin$positive e3periences o* socially sustainable CR8 *inancial and technolo$icalsustainability re'ain a challen$e that o*ten distract CR practitioners *ro'dedicatin$ the'selves to a'eliorate radio production8 increase co''unityparticipation and pertinence o* pro$ra''in$4 Co''unity radio *aces i'portantsustainability challen$es re$ardin$ capacity buildin$ and enhancin$ localownership4 ,nowled$e sharin$ on best e3periences across re$ions as well asincreased use o* new (CTs can 'ake a di**erence4



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Community Radio is part o" a political non*partisan communication process(Co''unity radio is a social actor o* the develop'ent process4 Co''unity radiocan initiate or acco'pany social chan$e and carries responsibility to be e**ectivein *acilitatin$ civil society develop'ent and achievin$ develop'ent objectives and

de'ocracy buildin$4 The participation o* co''unity radio practitioners andstakeholders in social 'ove'ents was indicated as an i'portant *actor inachievin$ increased social i'pact4

!)clusion and mar'inali1in', particularly o" omen The participants identi*iede3clusion o* wo'en as a key social challen$e that can be con*ronted byco''unity radio4 "ender e2uality is a societal challen$e that needs to be tackledspeci*ically in Co''unity radio i* we want to achieve poverty reduction and*acilitate the achieve'ent o* develop'ent objectives4 "ender stereotypes carriedby traditional 'edia are obstacles to the e3ercise o* wo'en ri$hts ande'power'ent and CR can e**ectively *acilitate wo'ens inclusion and the

reco$nition and e3ercise o* wo'ens ri$hts4 CR needs to *i$ht e3clusion and'ar$inalizin$ by en$enderin$ CR both in ter's o* content and access to radio'ana$e'ent and in the use o* technolo$y4

Community Radio +etor&s and &noled'e s%arin' practices are rare( Eventhou$h co''unity radio has beco'e a $lobal sector8 interaction between re$ionsis rare and e3chan$es between CR are rare4 7urther'ore8 syste'atic i'pactassess'ent across borders is al'ost non e3istent CR need to stren$then theirown networks and co''unications and to e'bed appropriate assess'ent tools8to docu'ent and disse'inate $ood practices and to stren$then networkdevelop'ent throu$h institutional capacity buildin$ and co''unications4

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Cha$!e% Regi"nal Pe%s$e!i+es

This Chapter presents a synthesis o* the debates and *indin$s *ro' A*rica8 #atin A'erican8 Asia Paci*ic8 European and !orth A'erican perspectives on thedi**erent activities held durin$ the $lobal evaluation process >roundtables8

electronic *oru'8 survey8 e3chan$es at the AARC G &orld Con*erence@4Af%ian Pe%s$e!i+es

(n the A*rican re$ional debates8 there was stron$ consensus on the need toLopti'ise the li'itless potential o* Co''unity Radio in e3pandin$ the $eo$raphyo* the de'ocratic space4M

So'e o* the key speci*ic ele'ents raised was that Co''unity Radio is *or thepeopleKby the co''unityO (t is di**erently run and 'ana$ed8 and di**erentlyre$ulated by di**erent le$islation in the various countriesO CR should be e3pandedand allowed to $row N $overn'ents 'ust create an enablin$ environ'ent *or this

i'portant tool to striveO CR is about e'powerin$ co''unities by redistribution o*power because LParticipation is the en$ine o* de'ocracy and co''unity radio isa tool *or participationM

So'e o* the speci*ic challen$es related to CR in the A*rican conte3t were alsoraised4 They are related8 *irst o* all8 to the di**iculty o* 'aintainin$ theindependence o* CR political role *ro' $overn'ents8 political parties or reli$iousdeno'inations4 There is also de issue o* $ainin$ respect *or the role o* CR *orpro'otin$ $ood $overnance and accountability4 Speci*ic challen$es o* CR aresi'ilar to other re$ions and they relate to ensure local ownership o* Cr8 contentdevelop'ent8 issues o* *inancial sustainability and challen$es to ensure $ender

e2uity within CR4

(n the A*rican conte3t CR has proven its positive in*luence in poverty reductionand in *acilitatin$ sustainable develop'ent as well as $ood $overnance andaccountability4 CR needs to be driven by the needs o* the co''unity it serves

As said bt 7r4 Patrick Tor Alu'ukus book Co''unity Radio *or Develop'entwhich says so'ewhere that8 L*reedo' o* e3pression is si$ni*icant becausehu'an li*e depends on co''unication8 and to be *ully hu'an8 people 'ustco''unicate4M &e all work towards the develop'ent o* co''unity radio in ourvarious countries and all throu$h the world4

Asia Paifi Pe%s$e!i+es5

The 'ain challen$es *or CR in the Asia Paci*ic re$ion are8 *irst o* all the lack o*appropriate CR le$islation acco'panied by constant oppression o* 'edia8

** The A*rican Roundtable notes were co'piled by Doris Dery8 &o'ens representative8 &estand Central A*rica4 Resu'e o* Electronic 7oru' by "race "ithai$a8 President AARC A*rica4*0 These are e3erts *ro' the notes *ro' the Asia Paci*ic roundtable taken by Su'an Basnet8

AARC AP Coordinator



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*reedo' o* e3pression and 'ilitary threats4 There also e3ist di**iculties related tothe sustainability o* CR8 increased by $eo$raphic isolation >aldives@4

The use o* 'i3ed technolo$y was considered as a clear opportunity allowin$e3chan$es that rein*orce CR pro$ra''in$ and per'ittin$ to circu'vent

oppressive 'edia le$islation4 CR has proven to be a uni2ue tool as early warnin$syste' in natural disaster prevention as well as a*ter the Tsuna'i in *acilitatin$reconstruction and solidarity buildin$4 CR has proven in the re$ion to be ane**ective tool *or peace buildin$ and de'ocracy buildin$ as in the de'ocratice3perience o* !epal4 The role 'odel o* wo'en in CR and en$enderin$ CRpro$ra''in$ are e**ective possibilities to pro'ote $ender e2uality and wo'ensri$hts in the re$ion4 !etworkin$ and capacity buildin$ is i'portant4

(t is i'portant to articulate the values and social objectives in the CR sector4 CRcan serve *or Protection in ter's o* security and sa*ety a$ainst dan$er8particularly disaster that can be predicted and preventedO *or the role o* 'edia in

con*lict prevention by encoura$in$ the dialo$ue be*ore the con*lict beco'esviolent4 CR also serves *or the ell*bein' o* local co''unities by *acilitatin$ toachieve 'illenniu' develop'ent $oals and thin$s like education and health8 itinvolves also issues such as happiness8 sel* estee' and 2uality o* li*e4 CR also inter's o* reco'nition on how individuals have been i'proved by CR8 becausethey have not only been able to speak out but also to be heard and 'ake ani'pact4 (ts about bein$ able to participate in political processes and havin$ onespoint o* view reco$nized and actually 'akin$ a di**erence4 This is what otherswould call $ood $overnance8 accountability and participation4 CR is also aboutin*or'ation on shared cultures and values that can i'pact on individual ri$hts4Particularly *or situations o* wo'en in society that need to challen$e particularcultural values that are da'a$in$ to wo'enO on attitudes towards youn$ wo'enand the ways in which they can be abusedO attitude towards wo'en in relation totheir relation with 'en in society4 At the sa'e ti'e it should respect cultural andlin$uistic diversities rather than pro'otin$ one culture4 CR encoura$essociali1ation that includes solidarity8 social inclusion8 and ri$hts o* people tospeak about their lives and identi*y ine2ualities in society4

La!in A&e%ian and Ca%i**ean Pe%s$e!i+es

Althou$h the electoral processes see' to be consolidated in 'any countries in#atin A'erica and the Caribbean8 there is still a de'ocratic Lde*icitM in the re$ion4

(n spite o* the chan$es8 it see's that Leverythin$ chan$es to stay the sa'eM4 Thearrival o* pro$ressive sectors to the $overn'ent has not conduced to anysi$ni*icant $ains in the de'ocratic culture8 the distribution o* wealth and theaccess to public policies *or all4 (n this conte3t8 CR have played an('portant role in denouncin$ the neoliberal 'odelO in e3plainin$ the situation in asi'ple way andO by openin$ the 'icrophones to the 'ar$inalized sectors o* thepopulation4*- $%ese are e)erts "rom t%e notes ta&en by Paula Castello, Project 6""icer o" AMARc /AC

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This conte3t li'its co''unicational practices *inancially and le$ally4 There arepro$ressive le$islations8 but the speci*ic rulin$s contradict the' and 'ake thee3istence o* co''unity radios very di**icult4 There is the need *or reco$nition andto build a collective identityO to e3ist re2uires to be reco$nized by the 'edia4

(n this conte3t there is need *or 'ore clarity on what co''unity radio and there isstill a lack o* a$ree'ent with other social 'ove'ents to increase theirin*luenceKi'pact8 in order to beco'e a counterbalance o* *actual power4 There iscoe3istence o* several 'odels o* co''unity radio4 (t is necessary to stren$thenCRs internal evaluation processes and work8 to be coherent between whatco''unity radios preach and stand *or and their internal *unctionin$8 whichshould be ideally de'ocratic and e2uitable4 At present8 there are e3cellent radiosthat 'ust be Lde'ar$inalizedM or in other words8 stop bein$ only directed to theLpoorM

All co''unity radios in the re$ion are socially sustainableO otherwise they wouldnot be on the air4 !onetheless8 *inancial sustainability is a proble' *or 'any o*the'4

CR have horizontality and diversity8 bein$ and under$oin$ botto'+up process8diversity 8 reco$nition o* di**erences and keepin$ historical 'e'ory to rescuecultures and identities and *oster a co''it'ent in co''unity radios to e2uity8 *orthe sake o* the e3cluded4

#e$al *ra'eworks vary *ro' country to country8 *ro' $overn'ent reco$nition bythe $overn'ent o* Bolivia to lack o* 'ainstrea' reco$nition as in Chile4 CR hasnot been able to set up the a$enda *or the reco$nition o* co''unication ri$hta4There is also the dan$er o* loosin$ autono'y with L*riendlyM $overn'ents such asthe %enezuelan $overn'ent4

N"%!h A&e%ian $e%s$e!i+es2

!orth A'erican co''unity radio are diverse and dyna'ic parts o* the CR'ove'ent N rural and urban8 low power >=;; watts or lower@ and *ull power8 *ro'various re$ions o* the S and Canada4 Participants consider that the conte3t is'arked by increasin$ 'ilitarization8 unilateralis' and unresponsiveness to theirpolities acco'panied by a $rowth in poverty and inco'e4 Social services8healthcare8 education and both child and elder care are in decline and persistent

racis'8 se3is' and ho'ophobia e3acerbate those proble's4 Access toin*or'ation and knowled$e is li'ited by on+$oin$ consolidation o* 'ediaownership and is *urther threatened by the possible enclosure and privatization o*the internet4

There is Politicizin$ o* national re$ulation o* the airwaves4 Rather than *ocusin$on spectru' allocation and inter*erence issues8 the 7CC >S re$ulatory body@*3 $%ese are e)ertas "rom t%e notes ta&en by !li1abet% Robsinson, AMARc $reasurer

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has abandoned those responsibilities and replaced the' with concerns aboutindecency4 The re$ulators in both countries also indicate support *or theco''unity radio sector8 but *ail to re2uire any support *or the sector and allowthe co''ercial sector *ree rei$n4

7inancial sustainability re'ains a critical issue *or 'ost co''unity broadcasters4ost stations have *ew paid sta** and rely on volunteers *or the creation o*pro$ra''in$ as well as the *unctionin$ o* the station4 A$ain8 national *undin$8 inthe li'ited arena in which it e3ists8 has been politically 'anipulated4 Corporateownership o* the vast 'ajority o* 'edia and a plethora o* co''ercial 'ediaresult in the persistent 'ar$inalization o* co''unity radio and co''unity 'edia$enerally4 (n the S8 the 'ajority o* the non+co''ercial spectru' has now been$iven over to reli$ious broadcasters4

&hile there is a $rowin$ threat o* censorship8 there is a conco'itant desire toknow a'on$ the populace and a $rowin$ skepticis' about corporate 'edia4 The

political crises8 then present opportunities *or 'akin$ co''on cause with othersocial sectors8 *or providin$ service to co''unities4

Success is a challen$e N econo'ic success can lead to loss o* credibility andloss o* 'ission4 There are also concerns with 'ission dri*t in the *ace o* *undersneeds versus our own8 pressures to pro*essionalize8 buildin$ new audiences8and 'aintainin$ continuity with hi$h volunteerKsta** turnover4 The sector alsoneeds better 'eans o* 'easurin$ i'pact rather than si'ply via 'oney raisedand nu'bers o* listeners4

Co''unity radios *unda'ental role in poverty reduction and de'ocratization isevidenced in the 'ultiplicity o* voices aired8 the nu'bers o* public serviceannounce'ents and pro$ra's that are provided at little or not costO reportin$ byand on underserved co''unitiesO in depth covera$e o* political events includin$those by s'all partiesO serious discussion o* issues ne$lected by corporate'edia such as labor 'ove'entsO low and *ull power stations in rural co''unitiesand urban nei$hborhoodsO and lobbyin$ *or a 'ore de'ocratized 'edia$enerally4

E'%"$ean Pe%s$e!i+es13

Co''unity 'edia has recently $rown in Europe4 AARC is aware o* theincreasin$ co'ple3ity and challen$es arisin$ *ro' 'ainstrea' acceptance o*

co''unity 'edia4

The needs and challen$es vary within European re$ions4 7or e3a'ple8 theSpanish network is very youn$4 (ts 'ain challen$es include brin$in$ to$etherdi**erent e3periences into a new le$islation4 (n Austria8 a concentration andco''ercialization trend has cut out a lot o* local content and local 'edia in

*6 The European Round Table was held durin$ the Co''unity edia eetin$ that took place in Brussels*ro' the G+=th o* 0uly ;;4

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$eneral4 There*ore8 an increasin$ly i'portant *unction >and challen$e@ *orco''unity 'edia is to beco'e the local supplier o* content in 'any placesincludin$ the need to develop 'ultilin$ual pro$ra''in$ and intercultural dialo$ue>involvin$ lin$uistic 'inorities@4 This has beco'e 'ore i'portant as o**icialborders are bein$ abolished but traditional borders re'ain in the 'inds o* local

co''unities and local 'edia needs to reco$nize the need *or local content4There are or$anizational proble's in Sweden that 'ake access to co''unity'edia di**icult4 Three or$anizations dealin$ with co''unity 'edia e3ist two *orco''unity radio and one *or co''unity television4 Their survival is lar$elydependant on $overn'ental and 'unicipal *unds4 (reland is a recent e3a'ple o*how trainin$ in Co''unity edia can be inte$rated in a national educationsyste' contributin$ to stren$then social and co''unicative skills o* itspractitioners and trainees4 This potential could be developed in a 'uch widerscale i* these capacities and the potential o* Co''unity edia were reco$nizedand supported on the European level4 This potential could also help to close theDi$ital Divide8 which is especially relevant on the local level and *or

disadvanta$ed or 'ar$inalized $roups and co''unities4CR in Europe thrives *or reco$nition as the third 'edia sector as a public sectorarisin$ *ro' below co''unity 'edia workers should be *ully reco$nized as

journalists8 co''unity 'edia should be involved in all consultations related toour *ield o* activity8 access to *re2uency8 broadcastin$ capacities8 su**icient*re2uencies reserved8 *undin$ one 'odel would be European Co''unity edia7und 'ana$e'ent4 Reco$nize CR as 'edia literacy tool

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Cha$!e% 26 The A&&an Dela%a!i"n.

&e8 the participants in the Gth &orld Con$ress o* the &orld Association o*

Co''unity Radio Broadcasters >AARC G@ held in A''an8 0ordan8 *ro' ==to=: !ove'ber ;;O

Recallin$ Article =G o* the niversal Declaration o* 6u'an Ri$hts8 which statesthat Everyone has the ri$ht to *reedo' o* opinion and e3pressionO this ri$htincludes *reedo' to hold opinions without inter*erence and to seek8 receive andi'part in*or'ation and ideas throu$h any 'edia8 and re$ardless o* *rontiersOM

Recallin$ nited !ations "eneral Asse'bly Resolution (@ o* = Dece'ber=G8 which states that *reedo' o* in*or'ation8 is a *unda'ental hu'an ri$ht8and "eneral Asse'bly Resolution =GG@8 o*Santia$o >=GG@8 o* Sanaa >=GG@8 and o* So*ia >=GG:@ resultin$ *ro' the!ESC-+sponsored se'inars which assert the establish'ent8 'aintenance and*osterin$ o* an independent pluralistic and *ree press is essential to thedevelop'ent and 'aintenance o* de'ocracy and econo'ic develop'entO

Considerin$ Article G o* the A*rican Charter on 6u'an and Peoples Ri$hts whichrea**ir's the ri$ht that every individual shall have the ri$ht to receive in*or'ationO

Considerin$ that the &orld Su''it on the (n*or'ation Society >&S(S@Declaration o* Principles rea**ir's the principles o* *reedo' o* the press and*reedo' o* in*or'ation8 as well as those o* the independence8 pluralis' anddiversity o* 'edia are essential to the (n*or'ation SocietyO

!otin$ that the &S(S Plan o* Action calls *or the provision o* Lsupport to 'ediabased in local co''unities and support projects co'binin$ the use o* traditional'edia and new technolo$ies *or their role in *acilitatin$ the use o* locallan$ua$es8 *or docu'entin$ and preservin$ local herita$e8 includin$ landscapeand biolo$ical diversity8 and as a 'eans to reach rural and isolated and no'adicco''unitiesOM

Reco$nizin$ the power*ul role that co''unity radio plays in the achieve'ent o*the illenniu' Develop'ent "oals by raisin$ awareness o* the key develop'entchallen$es across the world and pro'otin$ peoples participation in andownership o* develop'ent processO

* Dra*ted and rati*ied by participant co''unity radio broadcasters 'e'bers o* AARC durin$ its Gth "eneral Asse'bly in A''an8 0ordan8 !ove'ber =8 ;;

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Recallin$ that the wo'en and 'edia section o* the Beijin$ Plat*or' *or Actioncalls *or the increased participation and access o* wo'en to e3pression anddecision+'akin$ in and throu$h the 'edia and new technolo$ies o*co''unication and ur$es $overn'ents8 !"-s and the 'edia itsel* to pro'ote abalanced and non+stereotyped portrayal o* wo'en in the 'ediaO

Recallin$ the AARC Declaration o* Principles adopted at the *oundin$con*erence o* AARC in ana$ua >=GHH@8 the European Charter *or Co''unityRadios adopted at the *oundin$ con*erence o* AARC Europe in Slovenia>=GG@8 and the AARC (nternational Charter o* Co''unity Radios >;;I@ andtheir e3pression o* the or$anizations co''it'ent to represent the interests o* allco''unitiesO

Dela%e !ha!6

=4 The pro'otion and protection o* peoples co''unication ri$hts are crucial in

the *ree *low o* in*or'ation and ideas8 which are the pillars o* a *unctionin$de'ocracyO

4 Co''unication ri$hts are based on a vision o* the *ree *low o* in*or'ation andideas8 which is interactive8 e$alitarian and non+discri'inatory and driven byhu'an needs8 rather than co''ercial or political interestsO

I4 Respect *or pluralis'8 culture8 lan$ua$e8 and $ender diversity should bere*lected throu$h all the 'edia as a *unda'ental *actor in a de'ocratic societyO

4 Co''unications 'edia that help sustain the diversity o* the worlds culturesand lan$ua$es should be supported throu$h le$islative8 ad'inistrative8 and*inancial 'easuresO


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=;4 (ndependent 'edia can play a si$ni*icant role in achievin$ sustainable peaceand pro'otin$ social develop'ent in the iddle East and !orth A*rican re$ionO

==4 The continued e3pansion o* transnational corporate 'edia con$lo'erates

and the concentration o* ownership increasin$ly threatens plurality8 includin$ thee3istence o* independent and co''unity broadcastersO

=4 !ew di$ital broadcast syste's have led to re+plannin$ e3istin$ *re2uencyallocation and new approaches to re$ulation risk *urther 'ar$inalization o*co''unication services run by and *or citizens8 co''unities and socialor$anizationsO

=I4&hile the $rowin$ conver$ence between teleco''unications8 co'putin$ andbroadcastin$ is increasin$ the nu'ber o* potential users8 the di$ital divide is alsocontinuin$ to widen and within that divide e3ists a $ender di$ital divideO

/e all f"%6

=4 All social actors includin$ $overn'ents8 !"-s and other 'e'bers o* civilsociety8 the nited !ations and other inter$overn'ental a$encies to contribute ine**orts to ensure just and e2uitable access to all co''unications 'edia by allpeopleO

4 The $rowth o* local8 co''unity+based and independent 'edia initiatives thatpro'ote pluralis'8 cultural8 lan$ua$e8 and $ender diversity by institutin$ policyand le$islation and providin$ ad'inistrative8 *inancial and technical assistanceO

I4 The *ull i'ple'entation o* the wo'en and 'edia section o* the Beijin$Plat*or' *or Action includin$ the 'edia provisions in the ;;< -utco'eDocu'ent by $overn'ents8 'edia industry bodies and civil societyO

4 Support by $overn'ents8 corporations and international institutions *or thepro'otion o* co''unication ri$hts includin$ the *or'ulation and en*orce'ent o*teleco''unications re$ulation in *avor o* the develop'ent o* South+Southco''unications in*rastructureO


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:4 Establish'ent o* standards8 nor's and 'easures at national8 re$ional andinternational levels8 to enable and assist the develop'ent o* independentco''unity broadcastin$ servicesO

H4 Support *or the develop'ent o* di$ital syste's8 which are appropriate to the

needs o* co''unity broadcastin$ services8 assess'ent and 'onitorin$ o* thei'pact o* technolo$ical conver$ence and re$ulatory chan$e on the co''unity'edia sector8 'easures to assist adaptation o* co''unity broadcasters to 'ediaconver$ence and appropriate *or's o* new technolo$yO

G4 Preservation o* e3istin$ analo$ *re2uencies used by co''unity broadcastersuntil such ti'e as a di$ital replace'ent is availableO and allocation o* part o* thebroadcast spectru' *or sel*+re$ulated use by 'icrobroadcastersO

=;4 The (nternational Teleco''unication nion to ensure that *re2uencyplannin$8 technical standards *or teleco''unications and radio8 and

develop'ent resources $ive a hi$h priority to the needs o* local co''unities andcivil societyO

==4 (nternational *inancial institutions to dedicate a percenta$e o* loans andbonds to supportin$ co''unity+based and independent 'ediaO

=4 Reco$nition o* the crucial role o* co''unity 'edia in disaster relie* and'ana$e'ent and in e'er$ency preparednessO

=I4 All $overn'ents that have jailed journalists *or the practice o* their pro*essionto release the' i''ediately and unconditionally4 0ournalists who have had toleave their countries should be *ree to return and to resu'e their pro*essionalactivities4 Those who have been dis'issed unlaw*ully should be allowed tore$ain their positions4

=4 Continue conde'nation o* the continued physical assault8 threats8 arrest8detention and other *or's o* harass'ent8 a$ainst co''unity radio broadcastersand other journalists4

/e all "n !he "&&'ni!( &edia se!"% !"6

• onitor transnational corporations >T!Cs@ and launch internationalca'pai$ns to raise consciousness about and develop strate$ies to halt theincreasin$ control T!Cs on our co''unications syste's and structuresO

• #obby *or national and international 'easures to ensure new in*or'ationand co''unication technolo$ies provide a**ordable access to citizens andco''unities to establish new co''unity 'edia serviceO

• Develop co''unity 'edia pro$ra' e3chan$es and build solidarity andsupport *or co''unity stru$$les *or hu'an ri$hts and social justiceO



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• Pro'ote and support the trainin$ o* journalists8 broadcasters8 en$ineersand other 'edia pro*essionals8 especially those workin$ in rural and'ar$inal urban areasO and

• Educate civil society or$anizations8 $overn'ents and re$ulators8 and the$eneral public on the policy issues o* re$ulation8 the i'portance o* a

sustainable and pluralist broadcastin$ environ'ent8 and the bene*its o*co''unity 'edia4

&e8 the 'e'bers o* the "eneral Asse'bly o* AARC $athered here in A''anare *ir'ly convinced that co''unity 'edia plays a speci*ic and crucial role inenablin$ public participation towards a just and e2uitable in*or'ation andknowled$e society that includes the voices o* the poor and 'ar$inalized4 &ereco$nize that the lack o* proper enablin$ le$islation is the sin$le principle barrierto the *urther develop'ent o* co''unity radio4 &e call *or co''unitybroadcastin$ to be reco$nized as a distinct 'edia sector as a vital alternative tostate owned public broadcasters and co''ercial private 'edia4 &e assert the

e3istence o* a positive link between in*or'ation co''unication technolo$ies andco''unity radio4 &e reco$nize that co''unity radio sustainability is a $lobalchallen$e and the in spite o* the increasin$ positive e3perience o* sociallysustainable co''unity radioO *inancial and technolo$ical sustainability re'ainschallen$es *or co''unity radio or$anizers4 &e view co''unity radio as aninitiator or acco'pani'ent to social chan$e that carries responsibility to bee**ective in *acilitatin$ the civil society develop'ent in de'ocratic processes4 &ereco$nize the role co''unity radio can play in *acilitatin$ wo'ens inclusion andthe reco$nition o* wo'ens ri$hts8 the reduction o* poverty and pro'otion o*sustainable develop'ent4

&e are co''itted to the realization o* our de'ands in this declaration and wepled$e to continue our work *or the pro'otion and protection o* peoplesco''unication ri$hts and all ri$hts e'bodied in the niversal Declaration o*6u'an Ri$hts4 &e call on the international co''unity and all independent andco''unity 'edia advocates to contribute to the sa'e4

AMARC Community Radio Social Impact Assessment 2007 Pa$e I< o* =H


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Pa%! III C"&&'ni!( Radi" S"ial I&$a!17

Cha$!e% 3 Findings "n C"&&'ni!( Radi" S"ial I&$a!

The $oal o* the AARC Co''unity Radio ('pact Evaluation Re'ovin$Barriers8 (ncreasin$ E**ectiveness was to understand the co''unicationprocesses *acilitated by CR8 to hi$hli$ht the e**ects o* CR as well as *indin$ waysto increase the social i'pact o* CR in achievin$ poverty reduction anddevelop'ent objectives in de'ocracy buildin$8 inclusiveness8 $ood $overnanceand accountability4

An essential part o* understandin$ o* CR e**ects is the syste'atization o* thesocial i'pact o* Co''unity Radio8 the criteria *or 'easurin$ that i'pact 8 theways to 'easure or to assess the in*luence o* CR and the areas where CR

'akes a di**erence4 This evaluation process belon$s to the lar$er objective o*critical re*lection on our work as a *ra'ework to rein*orce CR relations with civilsociety 'ove'ents and CR stakeholders to ensure their support and partnership4

The participants in the evaluation process see the role o* co''unity radio not asa technical one8 but rather ontolo$ical8 we are evaluatin$ the social i'pact o*co''unication processes4 The evaluation o* co''unity radio needs to be seenas part o* co''unication process o* a political but not partisan nature4 Thee3istence o* individuals in the public sphere depends on the access to 'edia4The participants hi$hli$hted the need to incorporate the values and socialobjectives o* the CR sector in the i'pact evaluation process4 &e are talkin$ o*

evaluatin$ a co''unication process so8 the indicators o* what we are evaluatin$need not only to be o* 2uantity or 2uality8 they have also to be process and ti'erelated4 &e 'ust create our own tools to 'easure the i'pact o* co''unity radioin order that the assess'ents clearly re*lect what co''unity radio is set to do4

The participants considered necessary to consider speci*ic evaluation conte3ts in'easurin$ co''unity radio social i'pact4 A'on$ others the Capacity to'easure social i'pact is not e2ually distributed everywhere8 particularly in thecase o* the Asia Paci*ic Re$ionO The le$al *ra'eworks have a speci*ic in*luenceon the i'pact o* co''unity radioO the level o* articulation betweenlocalKnationalKre$ional and $lobal citizenship a$endas in*luences the evaluation

o* CR social i'pact4

To increase CR i'pact there is a need to create the conditions *or such ani'pact throu$h a strate$y *or capacity buildin$ in radio lan$ua$e and

*' art II, presents the 8e fin!ings an! !oc"mentation on the socia$ impact of Comm"nit Ra!io

wor$!wi!e form"$ate! an! "se! % CR sta8eho$!ers !"ring the or$! Eva$"ation of Comm"nit Ra!io:

Removing Barriers, Increasing Efficienc activities, inc$"!ing Regiona$ Ro"n!ta%$es, E$ectronic 5or"m

/isc"ssions, e$ectronic &"rve an! AMARC ( or$! Conference.



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co''unication strate$ies within the CR the'selves4 (n order to 'a3i'ize thei'pact o* co''unity radio8 we 'ust ensure that it 'eets the needs o* itslisteners and there is local ownership throu$h participation in the CRO

E3ter

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AMARC Evaluation Book June-10 2007(1)

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