IICD supported project: Network of Local Radio Producers - Free Waves

Countries: Bolivia [BO]
Sectors: governance media

Summary

A group of 4 NGOs and 1 radio station in Eastern Bolivia have formed a Network of Local Radio producers to focus on the integration of radio and Internet to enhance the impact and coverage of local radio programs produced by NGOs in Bolivia. The Network enables the NGOs to exchange programmes with other localities via a jointly developed website, allowing for a wider broadcast coverage throughout Eastern Bolivia, tripling the potential number of listeners of each of the partners. Through the collaboration in a network, the participants and small radio stations expect to guarantee their independence from commercial radio stations and to keep focus on programmes with developmental relevance.

Update

Updated: 2005-08-30

Started in 2001, the project focuses on the combination of radio and
Internet to enlarge the current audience of the three participating
NGOs in this project. The organisations strengthened radio programme
development -digital- capacity and developed a joint website which
allows for the exchange of radio programmes. The organisations are now
producing regular radio programmes -3 hours weekly- and update the
joint website. Still not successful is the exchange of programmes. It
is found that the extraction of short programmes for uploading on the
Internet is time consuming and that the type of programmes is not of
much interest for broadcasting. An evaluation in 2003 is to see how the
services of the project can be made more optimal.

Introduction

Until recently, ICT and the Internet in particular have been vehicles that bring developing countries more and more closer to the global market. The values and life styles presented by the global market often neglect the values of developing countries and do not reflect their values and social behaviour. It is evident that to the current socio-economic, political and gender divide another source of division is added: the digital divide. If immediate measures are not taken, this could produce more inequality and exclusion for those who do not have access to ICT. In this context, the 4 NGOs and 1 radio station have formed a Network. The NGOs already produce radio programmes to promote their work and activities and to report on locally relevant thematic issues including sustainable development, environment, agriculture and gender. Hitherto, their audience is limited to their localities, where they broadcast via local radio stations.

Objectives

The networks' website "Libre Ondas" will: 1) Store weekly produced radio programmes developed and send in by the participants via E-mail; 2) Provide basic information on the NGOs and an agenda on local, national and international events and 3) provide locally relevant national/international news items downloaded from international and national new agencies, which can be used to integrate in local radio programmes.

To prepare the NGOs for full exploitation of the Network, the participants will be trained in database and web development and Internet and Internet access of the participating NGOs will be upgraded. The Network has started with 5 partners only, but is expected to expand with other NGOs and radio stations after the first year.

Development Impacts

The project contributes to the democratisation of information on universal and local issues that affect the lives of people and communities and gives value to their propositions. In this context, the opportunities of Internet can assist in the information and awareness creation of the public in local, national and international relevant development issues. At the same time, Internet allows to inform on and express local problems, ideas and initiatives to the national and international community.

Market and finance

The beneficiaries of the project include the participating NGOs and the general public in the Eastern part of Bolivia. In total, the radio programmes have a total potential audience of about 130,000 people. The project will be able to generate only limited funds from advertising. In addition, new future participants in the network will be charged a contribution for integration to the network and training. To cover the initial investments, a starting subsidy is provided by HIVOS and IICD. For the on-going costs, an annual external support of US$ 39,000 is required for the next 4 years

Project Owner : Casa de la Mujer

Project Partners : Radio Alternativa,
CIPCA,
ICO,
CAPA,
HIVOS,
IICD

Project Contact : IICD