December 2009

Staff of Radio Gbafth

Community Radio: Driving Development
SFCG counts radio stations as its most important operational partners across the African continent. To assess the impact of community radio on peacebuilding, in June of this year SFCG recruited four interns to work in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The interns carried out an evaluation that looked at how community radio stations address development issues, how development programming is perceived by the audience, and what changes resulted in the targeted communities. The interns were based in four community radio stations— Radio Kolenten in Kambia and Radio Wanjei in Pujehun on the Sierra Leone side, and Radio Life in Voinjama and Radio Kergheaman in Ganta, Liberia— for a period of seven weeks. To assess the impact, the interns used guided questionnaires, interviews, case studies, and direct observation.

The research found that the stations were actively participating in diffusing conflict and promoting inclusive development. While the radio stations have yet to meet their full potential for quality and quantity of radio-led peacebuilding, government and civil society use the radio effectively to distribute information and, to a lesser extent, to gather information. In all the cases, community residents expressed a strong desire for more programming, pointing to a loyal listenership base and appreciation for independent radio programming. Overall, this report emphasises that the contribution of community radios to the development process should not be underestimated and is crucial as the 2012 elections.

Download the Community Radio Assessment [PDF]

Fostering National Debate on Chieftaincy Reforms

Young community radio journalist in studio

With the national and local elections processes completed, Sierra Leone is holding elections for its Paramount Chiefs this month. The process began with the Chieftaincy Act, which outlines procedures for electing and appointing Paramount Chiefs, a highly politicised issue which brings together divergent voices, opinions, and interests. Many Sierra Leoneans argue that the balance between chiefs’ service to the government and service to the community has shifted too far in favour of government and national political parties. In the past, chiefs often served as political enforcers , sometimes actively suppressing free speech and political association. Chiefs who enjoyed the patronage of the politically powerful also tended to abuse their authority for private gain, exploiting their people in that process. There have been worrying signs of a return to this kind of behaviour in the post-war era. Given the sensitive nature of the reform process and various vested interests by a number of officials and politicians, there is the need for sustained advocacy to ensure that the issues being raised for consideration in the reform process are consistently being debated, bringing in diverse voices from across the nation and ensuring a national perspective. To support the process, for the last few months SFCG has partnered with other civi l society player s t o implement a media campaign raising awareness and stimulating dialogue around the Chieftaincy reform and its implications for leaders and citizens, using programming such as the daily soap opera Atunda Ayenda. In this way, SFCG and civil society players can address the above-mentioned isues, effectively stimulat ing proactive action from policy makers.

Diamond Area Community Development Fund

With mineral extraction and natural resource management both representing areas of economic promise and sources of conflict and corruption in Sierra Leone, SFCG has launched media campaigns to address the lack of transparency in resource extraction industries.

The Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF) was established by the government in 2001 as a vehicle for community development. The fund requires the government to allocate money to be distributed among the diamond mining chiefdoms in the country, delivering benefits for their resource and mineral wealth. However, the changing context in Sierra Leone has let the focus of the DACDF slip recently. The accountability mechanism has been largely absent. The development priorities have not been set in consultation with the people and the chiefs have not been accountable to the people on the utilisation of the DACDF funds. In some instances, funds are being used as compensation for the chiefs for supporting the political parties. One chief described how he was chased into the bush by ministry officials demanding their cut of the money as soon as he received it. As a result, there have been complaints by the people that they have not seen any tangible development brought about by the DACDF.

To address this issue, SFCG's radio programmes in Kono and Kenema have facilitated lively debates around the utilisation of the fund. This is particularly important given the role diamonds played during the conflict and the conditions of youth and lack of community development. SFCG's support for the DACDF is done in the hope that the new procedure of working the funds through a formal chiefdom administrative system and community involvement in prioritising development projects and utilisation of public procurement policy can enhance transparency and accountability. The radio programmes put in place by SFCG aim to encourage government officials to conform to this new procedure.

SFCG specifically targeted citizens in Kono district, as it is the primary producer of diamonds. Activities included radio programmes and panels to discuss the DACDF with representatives from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, members of civil society and citizens, including Paramount Chiefs. The programming focused on information awareness around the DACDF, its purpose, where the money comes from, who benefits, how money is allocated and how often, as well as the new procedures of DACDF with regard to chiefdoms.