IICD supported project: Rural women's information network in Zabré

Countries: Burkina Faso [BF]
Sectors: livelihoods

Summary

This empowerment project aims to provide information and access to communication to members of the women's association Pag La Yiri (11.000 members) in the information-poor area of Zabré, through the installation of an Internet connection and the setup of a small community radio station. The radio station will also benefit other local organisations and the local population in general.

Update

Updated: 2007-11-05

The project started in March 2005. A consultant (Jean-Eugène Ilboudo) was hired to assist Pag La Yiri in its’ efforts to obtain the proper licences for radio broadcasting, and to assist with radio-oriented capacity development. Trainings will start mid 2005. Sulga Concept helped the organisation with the selection and the ordering of ICT-equipment, and a field visit to Zabré took place in order to assess the existing infrastructural situation. During the field visit, members of Pag La Yiri were informed about the project, its ICT-component and its objectives. Training needs assessments were done by IICD training partner Yam Pukri.

Introduction

The region of Zabré, in the southwest part of Burkina Faso near the Ghanaian border, is an important agricultural region. The region lacks good transport infrastructure and communication infrastructure, which hampers its development. Even national radio and television can hardly be received here – many people tune in on the Anglophone radio stations from their Ghanaian neighbours.

Pag La Yiri is a strong women’s association which delivers alphabetisation programmes, agricultural information and training programmes, agricultural transformation services and pharmaceutical services to women and farmers in this region. One of its major problems is the timely dissemination of its information to the rural villages, which can be located up till 120 km from Zabré. There are no regional or local radio stations which cover this region, and the analphabetic percentage amongst the population is high. Communication with headquarters in Ouagadougou is possible through the use of telephone, but information products have to travel by (dirt) road. These problems are common for all organisations or institutions which work in the area. Setting up a community radio station may help overcome the information and communication gap between Zabré and the rural villagers, while the use of Internet and e-mail may facilitate the exchange of and the search for relevant information.

Objectives

The general objectives of the project are poverty alleviation and empowerment of women.The specific objectives of the project are to create an effective and locally appropriate information system for women in the region of Zabré.

Planned outputs

• Supply equipment for basic ICT and Internet use in the offices of Pag La Yiri in Zabré and Ouagadougou.
• Supply equipment for a community radio station in Zabré
• Obtain a broadcasting license for the community radio station in Zabré.
• Start broadcasting.
• Set up a regular broadcasting programme.
• Use the Internet for information search and exchange purposes.
• Use e-mail for communication purposes.
• Capacity development of 4-6 members in the use of ICT.
• Capacity development of 10-12 members in the use of radio broadcasting.
• Development of information campaigns via the radio.

Development Impacts

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the 11.000 members of the association Pag La Yiri in the surroundings of Zabré. Indirect beneficiaries are the other inhabitants of the region (approximately 120.000) and NGO’s and associations which work in the area. Indirect and direct economic benefits are expected once the radio will be on the air. Pag La Yiri will be able to drastically reduce its transport costs between Zabré and the surrounding villages. By providing locally relevant information, the radio may help people reduce travel costs, be informed on market prices, made aware of training opportunities etc. The Internet connexion will help Pag La Yiri to save on its transport costs from Zabré to Ouagadougou.The project has a large element of Capacity Development and will specifically empower women in the rational use of information and communication technologies.

Management and organisation

The project will entirely be run by Pag La Yiri staff and volunteers. In Zabré, all members are producers themselves. There is no paid staff for the administration, but active members are rewarded with small sums when possible, and part of their agricultural work is taken over by other members when they spend much time on the association’s work.

The intended team for the project is: Présidente de la radio - Madame WARE Suzanne (Présidente de l’Association des Femmes de Zabré), Directrice de la radio - Madame GOUBA née MARE Saratou (Coordonnatrice de l’alphabétisation à l’AFZ).

Responsables informatique: 1) OUARE Barkissa (Zabré), 2) BAMBARA Félicité (Ouagadougou).
Techniciens/ciennes radio: 1) GOUBA Basile, 2) Mademoiselle GANDRE Elisabeth, 3) YABRE Tobazingo
Animateurs (trices) d’antenne: 1) OUARE Justin, LEMBI Folrent, 3) BAMBARA Emile, 4) Mme GOUBA née OUANDAOGO Noélie, 5) YABRE Laurent, 6) SARE Etienne, 7) Bassolé Sébastien.

Market and finance

Operating a radio station is a relatively cheap operation, but the project will have to create some revenue in order to sustain regular broadcasting of the radio. It hopes to do so by:

• selling air time to other NGO’s and associations in the area of Zabré
• selling air time to national and international NGO’s (awareness raising programs)
• selling air time to individuals for personal messages (weddings, funerals, etc.)
• selling air time for publicity purposes

Budget

The overall budget for two years has been set at €76.500. This covers the purchase and installation of ICT- and radio-equipment, operating costs and costs of capacity development and training.

Project Owner : Association Pag La Yiri
09 BP 335 Ouagadougou 09
Burkina Faso
(Ouagadougou) Tel : 00 226 50 363400
Fax: 00 226 50312421
paglayiri@cenatrin.bf
(Zabré) 00 226 40 71 4204

Project Partners : IICD

Project Contact : IICD