On air!
UNDP tunes in to radio stations that are serving communities and building trust.
These past two tumultuous years have shown that there has never been a greater need for accurate, verified information.
Radio remains one of the most trusted media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has played a critical role in delivering life-saving information, especially in rural and remote areas.
Radio not only reaches the largest number of people but also provides space for tailored content, often delivered in the vernacular. It can strengthen social cohesion and cultivate a sense of community. In some places, it even helps preserve ancient languages and cultures.
To celebrate World Radio Day, here’s a shout-out to radio stations that are creating impact for communities.
Ready for the show?
Youth take the mic with Studio Sifaka, Madagascar.
It’s four o’clock in the afternoon, East African Standard Time. With a burst of punchy music, the Malagasy youth take to the airwaves.
Studio Sifaka (in French) is a 2-hour daily programme that gives them a voice through a national network of 33 radio partners. Studio Sifaka is inspired by a species of lemur endemic to Madagascar, named after its distinctive call.
“Studio Sifaka has managed to find its place in the Malagasy media microcosm by positioning itself on a little explored niche,” director Harison Ratovondrahona says. “It has become a national NGO in 2021 and is open to various types of partnerships to ensure the sustainability of this radio programming by the youth and for the youth.”
UNDP and partners launched the project in 2018 in response to mistrust of the traditional media. It aims to promote the participation of women and youth and help in building peace. Since then Studio Sifaka has grown and organized itself into a desk of young Malagasy reporters, editors, hosts and technicians, all under 30 years old, broadcasting to more than 170,000 listeners.
‘Listen and learn’ with Faustino in La Moskitia, Honduras.
“When the time approaches, I look for my radio and lie down in my hammock to listen and learn,” says Faustino Wills.
Faustino lives in La Moskitia, a remote indigenous area in Honduras that is particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. Radio is the most important communication tool in the region, where most people don’t have electricity.
Together with the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, UNDP partnered with radio stations to broadcast reliable information about COVID-19 in Miskitu, the most widely spoken language in the region. As part of the initiative, local radio journalists completed training on misinformation and on how to communicate life-saving facts in emergencies.
Boost the signal with UNDP Türkiye
When UNDP staff in Türkiye learned that UNESCO had published a series of radio messages on COVID-19 misinformation, they wanted as many people as possible to hear the recordings.
UNESCO had produced the clips in seven different languages, but Turkish wasn’t one of them. The UNDP team went to work translating the critical information. They recruited theatre and voice artist Toprak Sergen to perform them.
The recordings are now freely available for radio stations to use to combat disinformation and encourage healthy behaviour. Individuals are also encouraged to share the messages through social media.
Connect to culture with Phan, on air from Lao PDR.
Phan Ontaindala is a young woman of Makong ethnicity and hails from Markphueng Village, in Lao PDR. She discovered a new passion through which she is able to preserve her culture: radio presenting.
She knew that radio operated by and for communities provides space for civic engagement. Today, Phan runs the “Laiy Karn Sueksa Wan Mai” (New Day Learning) radio programme, sharing news and educational opportunities with her neighbours in the Makong language.
Phan is one of hundreds of volunteers across the country who bring community radio to life. While she loves speaking to her audience in their shared language, Phan plans to create a new programme to help them understand words and phrases in the Lao national language. This will enable Makong people to communicate in healthcare and education settings, and ensure they can access social services.
Switch on KALA-MAAN in Somalia for some serious fun.
“KALA-MAAN is our most popular talk show, and we have famous comedians, actors and poets in the team,” said Burhaan Diini Farah, the director of Radio Kulmiye. His station is one of many working with UNDP to spread awareness about COVID-19 in Somalia.
With only 24 percent internet connectivity, radio is the most effective and economical way to reach large numbers of people in Somalia. In addition to essential facts on prevention and treatment, the new programmes explore engaging topics, like how to pray safely and meet the Islamic injunction to protect yourself and others from harm.
“They speak all the different Somali accents and they understand the cultural nuances of every region, so everyone relates to them,” says Burhaan Diini Farah about the cast of KALA-MAAN. “They are known for giving out serious messages in a very entertaining and funny way.”
