Democratic Republic of Congo

UNHCR Evaluation of SFCG Programming in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Since 2006, UNHCR has funded SFCG to implement media-oriented conflict resolution programming throughout South Kivu and Katanga. The programming aims to decrease conflict among repatriated refugees and residents as well as provide all community members with the skills and knowledge needed to resolve conflict non-violently.  This independent evaluation, commissioned by UNHCR, gauges the extent to which SFCG programming has achieved these goals.  A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze survey data and key informant interviews conducted in Uvira, Fizi, and Moba Territory between September and October 2008.  Key findings demonstrate:

• SFCG is fundamentally changing the way listeners and viewers obtain their information. Listeners and viewers of SFCG programming are less likely to believe rumors and more inclined to obtain information from the radio, local NGOs, and the government. 
• Exposure to SFCG programming correlates with increased knowledge of conflict resolution resources, refugee repatriation, and non-violent methods of reconciliation.
• There are significant positive changes in the perceptions of ethnic tensions, land conflict, and the reinsertion of repatriated refugees among radio listeners and viewers.

Download the DRC Refugee Key findings [In English]
Download the UNHCR evaluation by Grant Gordon [In English]
Download the DRC evaluation [In English]
Download the Burundi evaluation [In English]

Final Report for: Mass Information in Support of Peaceful Congolese and Burundian Refugee Repatriation

DRC

Activities in the DRC proved to be highly effective.With significant co-funding from UNHCR, SFCG was able to offer broad and comprehensive programming to the targeted communities. Key findings in the DRC reveal:

• Project activity resulted in a 73% increase in the percentage of Congolese refugees who received information about the repatriation process and the situation at home from SFCG programs. Of the refugees surveyed who listen to SFCG programs, almost all (99%) reported receiving information about the repatriation process and about the situation in their home communities from these programs.
• Key informants, focus groups and survey respondents reveal that the reliance upon radio as an information source increased from the baseline survey. Additionally, results indicated an increased number of people among the targeted populations listening to SFCG radio programs from the baseline assessment
• Beneficiaries of all types reported having more knowledge to resolve conflicts. Women and returnees were two groups in particular that showed increased confidence in their ability and awareness of the resources and information available to them to help them resolve disputes. Returnees, more than any other group, believe they have the information to resolve their conflicts collaboratively and nonviolently.
• As with the baseline, ethnic and land conflict are the two most common types of conflict mentioned by refugees, residents and returnees. Land conflict was a bigger issue for returnees and ethnic conflict for refugees although each camp had its own major issue.

Download the DRC Evaluation [In English]

2006 Centre Lokolé: Sustainable Peace program Evaluation

This externally led mid-term evaluation conducted by Mary Myers and Judy El-Bushra, of Triple Line Consulting ltd, was undertaken to provide an objective assessment of the programme’s progress against its aims, and its impact to date. The review found that, in general, the programme is on the right track to achieve its purpose (laying the foundations for sustainable peace by enhancing informative and participative communication around the transition process and by contributing to the reduction of tensions in the Eastern Congo) through activities focused on conflict transformation, media training and, to a lesser extent, community reconciliation. Key findings demonstrate that Centre Lokole:

• Is the only organisation in DRC that is advocating conflict transformation to a mass-audience. It combines practical peace-building with the power of the mass-media (i.e. radio), to inform and encourage Congolese participation in the ongoing peace process, as well as influencing knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the audience in ways that can facilitate peace.
• Has promoted conflict transformation communication through its radio outputs as well as through participatory theatre (in which field it has become an important resource), and to a less evident degree through its on-the-ground community work. There is some evidence that CL’s outputs have helped reduce general levels of tension, as well as contributing to specific instances where violence has been prevented, including most notably child demobilisation resulting from 'Sisi Watoto' radio programmes.
• Produces informative, relevant and stimulating material, which is disseminated to mass audiences in parts of the country where few other sources of information or discussion reach.
• Has contributed to media development through the training of professionals – including the young 'Sisi Watoto' reporters - and by setting high standards in its own programmes. It is the only organisation in DRC tackling elections from the standpoint of covering positive stories while being alert to the potential for conflict to result from the language or choice of stories chosen.
• Its programme includes a wide range of activities which are not being attempted by other organisations. These include developing creative radio formats, especially drama; promoting the only production by and for children broadcast throughout the Kiswahili zone; and developing programme formats which allow ordinary people from all over the country to have their say.

Download Key Findings from 2006 DRC Evaluation

Download 2006 DRC Evaluation

2003 Centre Lokole: Bukavu Evaluation Report

This internally led evaluation conducted by Cheyanne Church, Mark Rogers and Adrien Sindayigaya focuses on the programmatic work of the Bukavu office of Search For Common Ground's Centre Lokole Programme. The programme's overarching goals are to support the peace process, to promote unity for the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to reinforce the capacity of local organizations to resolve local conflicts through the use of media, arts, dialogue, and training programs based in peacebuilding centres around the country. Key findings demonstrate that Centre Lokole:

• Fills an important supporting role to indigenous civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo<
• Developed a highly popular and effective soap opera, yet identified that other radio programming did not share the same level of success
• Increased the demand for conflict resolution skills and knowledge
• The programme would benefit from further coherence between media and outreach activities

Download 2003 DRC Evaluation