"For several years now, the FAO-Dimitra project has been supporting community listeners’ clubs (CLC), which facilitate a process for strengthening rural communities, with a special focus on women’s leadership. At this stage in the project’s progress, we think it is necessary to take the time t
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o capitalize on several years of experience with the clubs. So included with this newsletter is a fact sheet describing the key features that make the Dimitra community listeners’ clubs a unique approach. You will also find in this issue a dossier which outlines the impact of the CLCs in the Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A listeners’ club forum in Isangi, which brought together members of 60 listeners’ clubs in the Province, offers a starting point to examine the results obtained. Marguerite Atilomoi, a young woman leader from Orientale Province, was chosen to feature in this issue’s Portraits Series. Marguerite is the moderator of a Dimitra community listeners’ club, and also serves on the Board of a local producer organization and is Vice-President of the Producers Union for her area. Several articles describe the launch of new clubs in Mauritania, Niger and Senegal with FAO’s regional Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) programme, as well as in Ghana." (Editorial, page 2)
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"The information communication technologies for development literature (ICT4D) has identified information communication technologies (ICTs) as a significant tool for economic and social development of least developed countries. The discourse has marginalized radio and promoted ICTs. However, there a
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re numerous challenges to using ICTs as a communication tool in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although investment in technology could create a much more effective use of ICTs, local appropriation should be at the center of any communication tool for development. This article discusses the widespread exposure to radio in SSA, and emphasizes the effectiveness of using radio to create indigenous knowledge, and in the process empower local women to actively frame their own messages and be active participants in development agendas. Combining radio and ICTs, also known as technological blending, would make certain that rural, poor and non-literate women are not only given meaningful access to new technologies, but also ‘brought into’ the development discourse, as active agents of social change." (Abstract)
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"This case study is being produced to share the process, techniques, and lessons learned from "Zaphamban' izindlela!" radio drama both as way to document, as well as facilitate others working on women’s issues to undertake similar initiatives. The case study demonstrates how entertaining forms of
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media, and engaging with community media in particular can both create awareness and dialogue." (Page 2)
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