Recommandations for technical and financial partners

• Select the implementation partner rigorously.

• Support the implementation partner with

external perspectives (backstopping).

• Facilitate and accompany both the

implementation partner and nation-

al stakeholders in networking.

• Anticipate technical, institutional and

financial sustainability from the plan-

ning stage of the programme.

• Develop a detailed sustainability plan

at the beginning of the final phase.

• Persuade central government to

award a grant to community radio sta-

tions for their contribution to broad-

casting information nationwide.

Impressum :Publication

Bureau de la Coopération suisse au Bénin,

Cotonou

April 2016

Editors

SEREC Sàrl, François PARVEX, www.serec.ch

Alain TOSSOUNON, MSc. Journalisme et

Médias, Cotonou, tossounon@gmail.com

Illustrations

Constant Tonakpa, constanttonakpa@gmail.com

Translation

Sarah Dunn, sarahdunntranslations@gmail.com

Publication

Calligraphy.ch SA, Sierre, www.calligraphy.ch

Layout Jenny DAYER, compo@calligraphy.ch

Paper Offset PlanoJet - FSC

For further information :

Bureau de la Coopération suisse DDC

et Agence consulaire

Lot 117 Zongo Ehuzu, rue du PNUD,

Immeuble voisin au Corps de la Paix

08 BP 0123 Tri Postal – Cotonou

Republic of Benin

Tel. +229 21 31 47 37

+229 21 31 47 38

+229 21 31 47 39

Fax +229 21 31 47 55

cotonou@eda.admin.ch

cotonou-ac@eda.admin.ch

Education

Recommandations for community radio

RECRUITMENTCommitted and

reliable staff: knowledge, social skills

and know-how

DEVELOPMENTAnticipating financial,

technical and institutional development: individualised

action plans, support PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

Precise planning, rigorous management of project cycles, consideration of

diverse needs of community radio, communication

with partners

TRANSVERSAL FACTORS

Mainstreaming of all factors: gender,

governance

COMMUNITY RADIO–TOWN

COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP Subtle balance to be found between independence and

collaboration. Facilitate, involve

administrative officials

TRAININGOngoing training

campaign throughout: community radio, local, national and implementation

partnersWORK TOOLS

Endowments conducive to sustainability :

real estate, facilities, infrastructure

NETWORKING AND DIALOGUE

Simultaneous networking at all levels with parallel

skills reinforcement

COMMUNITY RADIORigorous management: quality journalism, cash

flow, staff, administrative body, archiving. Provision of

methods and tools

Education

MANAGEMENTMust be irreproachable in order for community

radio to play its role (confidence)

COOPERATIONCreate viable critical masses

SUSTAINABILITYAnticipate financial,

technical and institutional sustainability

STAFFRecruit quality

staff and train them PROFESSIONALISM

AND ETHICSJournalistic quality

Editorial independence

INTERACTIONSExchange to innovate,

horizontally and vertically

CURIOSITYAwaken curiosity

MOTIVATIONSustain

motivation

PARTICIPATIONInvolve listeners

NETWORKINGInvolve key

partners in the area from the outset

SOCIAL MOBILISATION

Stimulate community learning

Broadcast in local languages

Community Radiosuccess factors AwAkEnIng ThE voIcElEss

Capitalising on nineteen years of Swiss Cooperation support of community radio in Benin

Listening to a programme on local public management together under the palaver tree

The DDC Swiss Cooperation has supported

these three powers for democracy. Firstly,

the programme mobilised local communities

to create and manage community radio sta-

tions. Next, it supported the development

of these radio stations. Finally, it facilitated

relationships between community radio sta-

tions and national public authorities and rep-

resentation bodies.

Principles of actionPrioritising social mobilisationThe programme priority has been continuous

social mobilisation at all levels. Injections of

knowlege have been organised in different

forms throughout. It should be noted that

ForewordThe media, when

used effectively, pro-

motes awakening and

open-mindedness in

communities, as well as

strengthening civil soci-

ety in citizen watchdog

missions, and public au-

thorities in their mission

to provide public servic-

es. For this purpose, the

media plays an important

role in changing behaviour

in respect to gender equal-

ity, health, education, agricultural practices

and adapting to climate change. It also con-

tributes to the consolidation of democracy,

economic development, to the fight against

poverty and simply to citizens’ welfare, not

to mention its role in peacekeeping and so-

cial justice.

Prior to audiovisual liberalisation, a result of

the law passed in August 1997, the Swiss

Cooperation decided in 1996 to help cre-

ate a network of independent, strong and

long-term community radio stations to serve

communities in Benin. At the end of the

programme, these covered a population of

4 million inhabitants. It also supported the

creation of a support structure at a national

level, in order to obtain a coherent system of

private and public operators.

Basic model for the programme’s interventionIt is often said that in order to be balanced,

democracy must be based on a balance of

three powers ; civil society, the press and

public authorities.

Community radio has a vital role to play in our country’s democracy.

(Lambert Dogo, President of the HAAC Private Sector Media Commission)

sustaining motivationSustaining motivation in both listeners and

staff is crucial. Six factors are important in

sustaining motivation. The two most impor-

tant factors, which need to be simultane-

ously combined in each individual, are the

possibility to contribute and to grow.

Pooling strengths In order to attain critical mass and thus reduce

costs and better defend their interests, it is

in the interest of community radio stations to

form alliances.

Cooperation between communities means an

increase in the number of potential listeners,

and perhaps also helps to facilitate relation-

ships with town councils and political parties.

The Federation of Community and similar

Radio Stations in Benin (Fédération des radi-

os Communautaires et assimilées du Bénin)

(FERCAB) was created with support from the

programme, with the aim

of playing an important role

on a national level through

mutual aid and advocacy. In

the field of gender equality,

the RIF-Bénin association,

which defends the inter-

ests of women journalists,

plays a crucial role. It has

been funded ad hoc by the

programme.

Involvement of key playersThe involvement of town

councils, even if they are often criticised on

air, is essential. This is part of the « Three

powers for democracy » process. Decentral-

ised state services must not be forgotten,

alongside traditional authorities, which have

an important moral influence on the pop-

ulation. At a national level, it is necessary

to work with public authorities such as the

HAAC and the Ministry of Communication of

Information and Communication Technology

(Ministère de la communication des Technol-

ogies de l’Information et de la Communi-

cation) (MCTIC), and with associations and

NGOs which advocate on behalf of the press

and journalists, such as the Union of Media

Professionals in Benin (Union des Profession-

nels des Médias du Bénin) (UPMB).

stimulating community debateInteractive programmes are one of the major

components to have been set up by commu-

nity radio. Subjects which interest listeners

are gathered either to produce informative

programmes or as a « grievance », to chal-

lenge the authorities and suggest they take

action. Radio stations thus play a role in ad-

vocacy in favour of communities, and are di-

rectly involved in the improvement of local

governance.

Anticipating financial, technical and institutional sustainabilityRadio stations must be prepared sufficient-

ly early to be viable. Contrary to previously

mentioned aspects, where a « one-size-fits-

all» type of approach is sufficient, the prepa-

ration for financial, technical and institutional

sustainability requires a « tailor-made » ap-

proach for each radio station or institution.

Observed effectsPublic participationCommunity radios have had an extremely

positive effect on citizen participation in life

and progress in their region. It is estimated

that 450 people are involved in running com-

munity radios, an average of 40 per radio

station. Additionally, each community radio

receives over 2,000 calls per year, an annual

total of over 25,000 calls from people of all

ages.

Emerging new talentsCommunity radio has enabled many people

to contribute to radio stations, and to grow.

They have also become prominent in their

region, becoming well-known, and in certain

cases, recognised as opinion leaders. Among

others, one very active listener has become

mayor, and a radio station director has be-

come an HAAC consultant. Radio stations

have enhanced human capital in the areas

they cover.

community learningRadio stations have fuelled the « spiral of

knowledge ». They stimulate the develop-

ment of expertise, for example, in the domain

of agriculture, and also life skills concerning

behaviour, for example, in health matters.

By supporting FERCAB and RIF-Benin, the Swiss have proven themselves to be very far-sighted.

(Kimba BA SEGUERE, Cabinet Director, Authority for the regulation of electronic

communications and the Post Office (ARCEP))

basic training was organised for all those in-

volved in any way with the projects.

The directors of radio stations were auto-

matically sent for around three months of

training abroad before starting their job. This

practice has turned out to be highly motivat-

ing and efficient.

Professionnalism and ethicsThe High Authority for Audiovisual Com-

munication (HAAC), a constitutional body

responsible for ensuring

freedom of the press and

radio, base their work on

the Code of Ethics of the

Benin Press (Code de

Déontologie de la Presse

Béninoise) edited by the

Observatoire de la Déon-

tologie et de l’Ethique

dans les Médias (ODEM).

User controlCommunity radio stations are in the hands

of their users and their interest groups. Most

have been set up by interest groups : whether

a retirees’ association, a development asso-

ciation, a parents’ association or a growers’

assocation. Each radio station is run by an

« Association for the Promotion of Commu-

nity Radio ». Management is entrusted to a

board of directors which has access to vari-

ous commissions to help in its work. A Pro-

gramme Commission plans programming

that meets listeners’ real-time needs.

Appointing qualified and reliable staffEmploying quality staff is a key factor in a

radio station’s success. People who are hired

do not benefit from high salaries in relation

to their training , but they remain committed

to their community radio, simply due to their

passion for their mission.

Arousing curiosityBy playing a « town crier» role, radio stations

broadcast new facts to listeners prompting

explicit learning processes and innovation in

civil society.

Systematic and ongoing training and

capacity buildingPractical

courses

Pooling ideas and talents

Study trips

On-site meetings

Negotiationas required

Exploratory workshops

Identification of subjects to be

addressed

Awareness

Social mobilisation

at every level

Recruitment of committed and reliable staff

Exchanging experiences

They allow listeners to acquire and share

knowledge, to develop new experiences and

encourage capitalisation. Community radio

represents a key progress factor, with wide-

spread and long-term ramifications.

Treasure trove of local knowledgeIn nineteen years, community radio has

proved to be a treasure trove of local knowl-

edge in the form of explicit memory, much

of which is in local languages. It is important

to build on this knowledge.

InvolvementThe appropriation of radio stations by local

stakeholders is crucial to ensure their sustain-

ability. The involvement of public authorities

too, as they constitute one of the three pow-

ers of democracy, and can greatly contribute

to their financial viability. Conversely, they

should not be allowed to monopolise radio

stations. The HAAC is very attentive to this

matter.

gender equalityThe issue of representation of women on

boards of directors and as employees remains

a difficult one, due to sociocultural con-

straints in the areas served by radio stations.

Active women are criticised by locals. One

positive outcome of the programme has been

the support lent to RIF-Benin, a Non-Gov-

ernmental Organisation

which aims to promote

and defend the interests

of women journalists.

The president, a member

of the national radio ed-

itorial team, started her

career on a community

radio station supported

by the programme.

sustainabilityTechnical sustainabil-

ity should be ensured

thanks to the investment

which has been agreed on in recent years

of the programme. Institutional and finan-

cial sustainability require ongoing attention.

Since the end of the programme in 2015, the

tasks accomplished at the lnstitut Kilimand-

jaro throughout the programme have been

taken over by the FERCAB.

Observed impact

The observed impact can be summarised as

follows :

• Improvement of local citizen-

ship and accountability

• Revitalisation of rural economy

• Better agricultural productivity

• Better access to education and training

• Better access to public services

• Improvements in efficiency of

public service provision

• Diffusion of knowledge