Reaching Rural Areas Via Radio

Contacts

In Washington Sunetra Puri Tel: (202) 473-2049

Email: spuri1@worldbank.org

Maria Gonzalez de Asis Tel: (202) 473-7950
Email: mgonzalezasis@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, October 19, 2005 – Africa Good Governance on the Radio Waves’ - an innovative  program to support local government capacity building and community empowerment through radio is making a difference to the lives of  the people of Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.  The program was launched on July 14th, as the most recent joint program between the Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) and the World Bank Institute (WBI), who are partnering with national associations of local governments in the participating countries. The program is transmitted by First Voice International via digital radio, reaching a large number of participants in rural and urban areas in these countries.

“We need to build on Africa’s tradition of oral knowledge exchange using technology, which helps our voices and ideas be heard,” says Frannie Leautier, Vice President of the World Bank Institute.

Governing Municipalities without Corruption is the first course of the program, the others being: Civic Participation for Good Governance, Municipal Finance/Participatory Budgeting, and Africa Municipal News Magazine.  The program is aired on Thursdays in one-hour-weekly sessions on the Africa Learning Channel (BCID 750) at 1pm local time. The program will run until November 10th, 2005.

"The Bank is supporting African countries to strengthen governance and to develop more effective states.  In this context, the role of local governments and the implication of civil society in policy development and implementation are critical to reduce poverty and to deliver adequate services to the population” says Guenter Heidenhof, Lead Public Sector Specialist at the World Bank.

As part of the program, participants not only listen to the course modules, but also use this learning to develop strategies to improve governance in their communities. The program also includes sessions via teleconference during which participants ask questions and make comments on the program. These sessions have taken place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at the beginning of September, and were well received.

The target audience include mayors, local public officials, civil society groups, and interested public.

Digital radio enables broadcasting programs in multiple and wide-spread locations simultaneously, participating communities use a digital receiver to tune into the radio shows. “Due to the support from the national associations we have found good locations of receivers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda” states George Matovu, Regional Director of MDP-ESA. Additionally, a community radio station called Radio Valco has been installed in the Cape Coast University, Ghana.  It will re-run the course on Governing Municipalities without Corruption in 14 sessions on Fridays at 7 pm starting tentatively from October 28.

While the program is currently broadcast in English, there are plans to include local languages, French and Portuguese soon.

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For additional information please click here.

Contacts in Countries:

GHANA:

National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG)

Mr. Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, General Secretary

P.O. Box 1953  Accra, Ghana

Tel: +233 21 7010298, Hotline/Fax: +233 21 668104, Email: nalag@africaonline.com.gh

Country facilitator:  Mr. Matthias Dorglo, Phone: +233 21 7010298

KENYA:

Association of Local Government Association of Kenya (ALGAK)

Mr. Augustine Odipo, Secretary General

2nd Floor, Cianda House, Koinange Street

P.O. Box 73328, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 249695 / 242758, Hotline/Fax: +254 20 242758, Email: algak@form-net.com

Country facilitator: Ms. Joyce Nyambura; Phone: +254 (0) 734 979 199

TANZANIA:

Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT)

Mr. Basilius R. Nchimbi, Secretary General

P.O. Box  7912, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tel: +255 22  2122452, Hotline/Fax: +255 22 2132590, Email: alat_tz@yahoo.com

Country facilitator: Mr. John Lubuva, Phone: +255 (0) 748 345719

UGANDA:

Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA)

Mr. Raphael Magyezi, Secretary General

Plot No. 3 Pilkington Road,

P.O. Box  23120, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 41 347575, Hotline/Fax: +256 41 251949, Email: ulaa@africaonline.co.ug

Country facilitator: Mr. C. G. Kiwanuka Musisi, Phone: +256 (0) 756 96239

THE WORLD BANK INSTITUTE: Washington D.C., USA, Email: afr_digital_radio@worldbank.org, Fax: (1) 202 676-9810