Document details

Radio and Development in Africa: A Concept Paper

Wardour: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (2008), 58 pp.

Contains illustrations, tables, acronyms pp. 4, bibliogr. pp. 50-54

"Radio seems to have proven itself as a developmental tool, particularly with the rise of community and local radios, which have facilitated a far more participatory and horizontal type of communication than was possible with the older, centralised broadcasting model of the 1960s and 70s. There seems also to have been a re-discovery of radio in the context of new ICTs, a realisation that technology has made radio into a more two-way medium and that it can help bridge the digital divide by providing a powerful tool for information dissemination and access, especially for hard-to-reach rural audiences [...] Whilst there are some proven successes in terms of radio's development impact to date, there are still some question-marks over radio's impact. This report identifies and discusses the issues of gender and minority access and inclusion in radio broadcasting; the issue of inciting violence and radio's 'double-edged' nature in vulnerable societies; the whole question of sustainability and whether or not developmental - and/or 'public-service' - radio is a viable concern from an economic standpoint. Underlying all these questions remains the challenge of how precisely to measure the impact of radio; finding appropriate methodological tools and forums to do so; and the problem of defining and researching behaviour change." (Executive summary)
1The present status of radio in Africa, 8
2 Assessment of radio’s capacity to promote development in Africa, 29
3 Future prospects for radio and development in Africa, 38
4 Research issues, priorities and questions, 42
5 Potential research partners in Africa, 46