"Increased political participation is seen as central to building accountability between citizens and leaders. Through debate and other factual programmes BBC Media Action uses media and communication to foster participation by providing information, stimulating discussion and enabling people to int
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eract directly with decision-makers. Using quantitative data from seven countries (Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Myanmar, Tanzania and Sierra Leone), the report explores the links between watching and listening to governance programmes and political participation, as well as the key drivers of participation: political knowledge, discussion and efficacy. The findings are clear and consistent: BBC Media Action’s audiences participate more than people who do not listen or watch its programmes, even when taking other influencing factors – such as age, income and interest in politics – into account. There is also a strong, positive association between exposure to BBC Media Action programmes and political knowledge and discussion. Finally, the findings also suggest that exposure to governance programmes can have a “compensating effect” on the political participation of groups who have historically been less engaged in politics – those who are young, less educated and less interested in politics." (BBC Media Action website)
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"The Union of Tanzania Press Cubs, UTCP, is an umbrella organisation, which supports a total of 28 local Press Clubs all over the country. The organisation describes its vision as: “A democratic Tanzania fully embracing a free, independent and robust media”, and the mission is formulated as: “
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To create an environment that enables strong, efficient and effective Press Clubs in Tanzania which eventually contribute towards a democratic and just society.” The evaluation concludes that the UTPC does have the potential to contribute to a democratic development in Tanzania as described in the vision and mission statements. It is the only member based media organisation with a national coverage." (Back cover)
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"For over five and one-half years, the Civil Society and Media Leadership (CSML) Program, led by IREX in partnership with The Carter Center and Social Impact, contributed to building a more capable, collaborative, and agile civil society and media sector in Liberia. The CSML team provided intensive
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support including training, mentoring, small grants, and equipment to over 60 civil society organizations and 35 media outlets in 15 counties. IREX has distributed over $6 million in grants to civil society organizations to conduct advocacy, reconciliation, civic and voter education, Ebola awareness raising, and contribute to their own organizational development. Community radio stations have received a total of over $400K worth of equipment, including 19 transmitters. The Carter Center trained 3,500 chiefs, women, and youth to advance access to justice and resolve community disputes, and broadened awareness of Freedom of Information to over 15,000 Liberians across the seven original target counties. Beyond these outputs, CSML has contributed to true impact, fostering an improved and enhanced civil society and media sector. These accomplishments are a result of the collaborative effort of IREX and its wealth of partners both international and national who sought, together, to achieve the goal to “sustain peace in Liberia through greater inclusion, giving a voice to, informing and engaging Liberian citizens.” As a result, in part, of the CSML program, IREX’s civil society partners conduct advocacy that is more informed and less confrontational, engage the media as a key stakeholder, and have more productive strategies for engaging local and national government." (Executive summary)
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"Project locations experienced general improvement with regards to social cohesion and conflict resolution. This was particularly the case in Wau, where results were encouraging. In contrast, Bor continued to feature more negative results than other project locations, although the county saw importa
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nt improvements since the undertaking of the baseline study in January 2015. This suggests a general positive impact of project activities. Indeed, project activities were at large seen as effective in fostering peacebuilding among local communities. Respondents held particularly positive views about the role of [the radio talkshow] Hiwar al Shabab in the promotion of peacebuilding. In contrast, the sustainability of the trainings and theatre performances, and divergent expectations and miscommunication within the UNICEF-SFCG partnership were highlighted as the weak links in the implementation of the programme. Despite this, research participants underscored the potential for media as a useful tool for peacebuilding." (Page 2)
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"This study has found that Uchaguzi represents a blended model incorporating both crowd-seeding (placing monitors on the ground to collect data) and crowd-sourcing (collecting information from the public). The success of crowd-seeding is a function of Uchaguzi’s partnerships with local and interna
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tional agencies. Overall, the blended model is quite remarkable in that it theoretically provides a robust monitoring mechanism incorporating feedback from both experts and ordinary citizens. Future projects in Kenya and other locations across the world should consider such a model." (Conclusion)
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"The Cambodia Communication Assistance Project (CCAP) is a media development initiative (2012-2014) funded by Australia’s aid program. The project is implemented by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development (ABCID) unit, in collaboration with four Cambodian Provincial D
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epartments of Information (PDIs) and the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). The project targets provincial media in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampot and Siem Reap. The goal of CCAP is to contribute to the achievement of better governance in Cambodia. This is achieved by using communication for development tools that enhance citizens’ voices and promote transparency and accountability of local authorities. The CCAP Endline Research Briefing illustrates the progress and impact of the project over the previous three years (2012-2015). One of the objectives is to assess the impact of CCAP at an audience level – to determine their understanding and engagement on governance issues. It explores audience knowledge and perceptions of governance, transparency, and accountability and specifcally draws upon comparisons between radio talkback listeners and non-talkback listeners. The briefng examines the potential changes in the capacity of PDI staf in radio program production and professional skill development. This research briefng provides some of the key fndings of the Endline Study analysis at the audience and PDI level. The Endline Research Briefing is based on quantitative audience research with 119 talkback program listeners and non-talkback listeners from the four targeted provinces – Kampot (30), Battambang (29), Kampong Cham (26), and Siem Reap (34). A comparative analysis was also conducted against baseline indicators. A slightly higher baseline sample (177) was achieved." (Page 4)
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"This synthesis of evidence suggests that BBC Media Action interventions have an important role to play in assisting people affected by crisis, and is consistent with other literature that highlights the role of media in providing accurate and reliable information in crisis. It highlights that, as w
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ith other forms of humanitarian assistance, mass media cannot fully meet people’s needs, and it works best alongside other interventions and actors, particularly locally based media broadcasters and other actors who can provide follow-up on issues raised and address locally specific issues and concerns." (Conclusion, page 56)
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"Evaluating the impact of media assistance is challenging for several reasons. Primary among them is that these kinds of initiatives operate in a complex political, social, and cultural environment. Although there has been increased attention to evaluation of media assistance, with a series of inter
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national conferences, funded research projects, and publications addressing this topic, it remains a problematic area of practice. This paper provides a survey of recent media assistance evaluation practices through an analysis of 47 evaluation documents of programs and projects from 2002-2012, identifying trends in methodology choices, and critiquing the quality of the evidence enabled through different evaluation approaches. It finds clear patterns in how, when and by whom evaluations are undertaken, but finds that these practices rarely generate useful, insightful evaluations." (Abstract)
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"We provide an assessment of the change in knowledge of a rural village in the Congo Basin after inhabitants listened to one of the radio programs that were prepared on climate change. The document also provides potential indicators for result up-scaling. After applying a micro-economic model to a c
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ase–control experiment, both before and after exposure to one radio program, the results show an increase in knowledge of 22.3% attributable to the radio program. In addition, a series of reactions were recorded from different end users, such as other media, ministries, NGO representatives and researchers, who reacted positively to the broadcasts. We recommend the use of radio programs to increase knowledge and induce behavioral changes with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation." (Back cover)
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"BBC Media Action has been involved in media development since it was founded in 1999. Over the years, we have designed and deployed a broad range of evaluation approaches and methodologies to assess the impact of and learn from our work. This has generated much internal discussion: Are we measuring
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the right things? Where can we realistically expect to see change? How much should we spend on evaluation? How can we tell whether that change is sustainable? This paper is our attempt to bring that discussion to the wider media development community. In it, we set out our working evaluation framework and methodology alongside the findings generated by applying this framework to five different capacity-strengthening interventions." (Executive summary)
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"This report presents the findings of the Mid-Term Performance Evaluation of the Mozambique Media Strengthening Program (MSP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The MSP project, with a period of performance of June 10, 2012-June 11, 2017 and a budget of $9,978
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,124 million, is being implemented by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX). The MSP is the largest activity in USAID/Mozambique’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) portfolio. Launched by IREX in June 2012, its goal is “[a] free, open, diverse, and self-sustaining Mozambican media sector providing high-quality information to citizens that promotes debate, accountability, and transparency.” The MSP contributes to USAID broader objective of strengthening democratic governance of Mozambican institutions and second- and third-order aims of more effective civil society participation in governance processes and citizens becoming better informed of their rights and responsibilities. This evaluation of the MSP seeks to achieve two purposes. First, the assessment attempts to validate interventions that are valued by stakeholders and that contribute to desired results, and second, the study aims to generate evidence-based recommendations for improved implementation of MSP over its final two years." (Executive summary)
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"1. Radio, particularly BBC Somali, is an effective medium for reaching people in remote areas of Somalia who are typically hard to reach, including the poorest [...] 2. Drama has been shown to have a particularly powerful role in encouraging audiences to absorb new and relevant information. Tragic
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stories illustrating the potentially fatal results of not adhering to recommended health practices were most recalled by listeners and most associated with improved health practices. The tragic storylines led to an emotional response among the audience, and this has been linked with shifts in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in the survey. 3. Sufficient time has to be allowed in media interventions to establish a wide audience base and contribute to change in deeply rooted practices and beliefs. In Somalia, preliminary signs that people were broadly aware of and learning from the programme appeared only after more than 30 episodes were aired." (Conclusions)
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"Through its strategic approach of producing better-trained journalists, the project is contributing to a positive long-term impact on the quality of media reporting in Bolivia and the level of information of its citizens. However, since no training cycle had been completed at the time of the evalua
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tion, there is as yet no answer to the question of continuation. The importance of media development cooperation and capacity development of journalists for democratic and sustainable development has been confirmed in recent years by various international actors (UNESCO, BBC et al.). It can therefore be assumed that ProPeriodismo will contribute to a general improvement in reporting standards if sustainability is ensured. However, it is a long process that depends not only on journalistic training, but also on other factors such as media policy developments in the country and region. The evaluation reveals two problem areas that detract from the intended impact: 1. So far, only a comparatively small number of journalists and lecturers have benefitted from the support. Furthermore, neither trainees nor university lecturers have the opportunity to systematically pass on their knowledge to colleagues in editorial offices or teaching institutions. 2. Changing media reporting for the better requires not only good journalistic training, but also an appropriate political and structural framework." (Page 5)
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"The Institutionalizing Social Accountability of Community Radio in Nepal project sought to strengthen the institutional capacity of community radios to promote social accountability and represent the interests of their constituencies. Its intended outcomes were to: 1) improve internal governance, o
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versight, financial and operational management of 100 community radios; and 2) have community radios across Nepal actively promote transparency, equity and social accountability [...] Project impact is difficult to assess. ACORAB made good efforts to collect output and some results-level data, such as the pre and post training tests and the post-workshop check to see how many stations had improved their policies. It also undertook the CR status review which served as a project baseline. But this was not repeated, nor was any data collected on what the stations then achieved with their updated policies, trained staff and public hearings. There is no market research on CR programming so no data is available on the size and nature of their audience or on the impact of their efforts. From the anecdotal information gathered, however it is likely that this project resulted in an increased number of public hearings with a broader range of stakeholders than would have otherwise been the case and that these hearings resulted in improvements to their communities and residents." (Executive summary, page 1-2)
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"Community media is an integral component of CEMCA’s TYP 2012-15 and mission, “to assist governments and institutions to expand the scale, efficiency and quality of learning … in open, distance and technology enabled learning.” In September 2013, CEMCA contracted Ashish Sen to evaluate its C
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ommunity Media activities for its Three Year Plan (TYP) 2012-15. The Evaluation process comprises three parts. These include: 1) Development of the Monitoring & Evaluation Plan (October 2013). 2) Interim Report (August 2014). 3) Final Report (April 2015). It focuses on the four key goals specified in CEMCA’s TYP. These comprise: 1) 20 % increase in number of community radio stations supported by CEMCA. 2) 100 community women empowered in media literacy, health, and leadership & democracy to develop community learning programmes. 3) 9 community radio stations adopt sustainable models & and show case best practices. 4) Increase in the number of stakeholders among content exchange platforms to share programmes in different formats and media." (Pages 9-10)
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"1. The DAME project has contributed to its overall objective of ‘strengthening the democratization process in Timor-Leste’ and to its specific objective of ‘enhanced engagement between NSAs, State authorities and their constituencies’ in the development process. 2. Most effective were the a
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ctivities strengthening youth leadership (Youth Forums and Civic Leadership trainings). Some 2500 youth all over Timor-Leste learned about the very skills needed for democracy. This is a promising contribution to strengthening the democratic process. 3. Core elements of the DAME approach - inclusiveness, NSA-SA collaboration, conflict prevention, and a consistent focus on youth and women - are highly relevant in view of the social, political and postconflict context in Timor-Leste, in particular by contributing to (and complementing) current government approaches. 4. However, the Action was over-ambitious in terms of objectives, partners with mixed capacities, activities, and target groups, covering all districts, and as a consequence some Action components suffered from insufficient in-depth development of quality, follow-up, coherence and cross-fertilization." (Executive summary)
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