United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Office in Nairobi, Kenya

Communication and Information

Access to information

UNESCO promotes an equitable information society through projects that combine new and traditional technology to make information accessible to all.

In particularit aims at reaching those who are unreached by Information and Communicationan Technologies (ICT's) and especially those who are at the greatest risk of being left out mainly the rural populations, the urban poor, the illiterate, disabled and marginalized. The underprivileged women and young people in particular are priority groups for UNESCO and a focus on their needs is mainstreamed into the various projects carried out. We do target such for training, and active involvement in ICT programmes.

Some of the most successful projects under this mandate include the establishment of the Community Multimedia Centre (CMC's). These combine a community radio by local people in local languages with community telecentres facilities such as computers with internet, e-mail facilities, phone, fax and photocopiers enabling the most remote village to communicate and exchange information with the rest of the world. UNESCO has supported such initiatives in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Somalia and Tanzania.

UNESCO Regional Communication Office trains Bondo community on Radio Programming

Bondo region is one of the twelve districts that make up Nyanza province in Kenya. Asa response to the difficulties of Bondo community to have access to relevant and up-to-date information that affects their socio-cultural and economic lives, UNESCO in collaboration with Rarieda Development Institute proposed a community Multimedia Centre (CMC) in Bondo District, Kenya in 2005. The project targeted Community Based Groups and Non Governmental Organizations, poor and illiterate with special focus on women and youth, that can debate on development, governance and human rights at the local as well as promotion of local culture and indeginous knowledge.

With funding from the International Programme for Development and Communication (IPDC) under UNESCO, the Bondo Community Multimedia Centre (CMC) Pilot Project was established in 2006. The aim was to apply and demonstrate a pilot model that reduces barriers and empowers marginalised communities in Bondo rural areas, enabling them to benefit from access to information and communication technology.

Radio Programming Training Course 11-17 March 2007

Following the successful establishment of the Bondo CMC, UNESCO Regional Communication Office funded a 5 days training course to 22 local volunteers from Bondo community.

Objectives of the Course

a) to help participants appreciate importance of harnessing grassroots creativity for broadcasting;

b) to demystify community radio sustainability;

c) to equip participants with knowledge and understanding of broadcast law and ethics of a good community radio, and;

d) to introduce participants to the participatory nature of community radio.

Target group: Grassroots men and women

Course Methodology: Lectures, discussion and group work

Course Content

1. Group Dynamics

2. Introduction to Community Multi-Media Centres

3. Community radio and sustainability

4. Basic radio formats: Voice, Music, Sound

5. Types of radio programmes: Drama, Radio feature, Radio documentary, Commercial spot, News bulletin, Sustainability programme

6. Programme planning: the idea, its realization and resolution

7. Scheduling contents and format

8. Broadcast laws and law of defamation

9. Fundraising

10. Linakages and partnership