Early Warning System Using Radio Broadcast for Southern Madagascar (AKA Project Radio) 

Partners are associated to the project as the Partners for Communications and Information for Development PCID
They act as a platform for discussion, they produce programmes on their specialized theme eg conservation, and participate in our trainings, they help distribute radios and set up listening groups

National/International
UNICEF
National HIV AIDS Committee Madagascar
FAO
PACT
EC

PCID Partners Local/regional

CARE
WFP
WWF
GRET
Systeme d’Alerte Precoce SAP
ASOS
FAFAFI
CISCO
Maison des Paysans
MCDI
Kiomba
VSF (Veterinaires Sans Frontieres)
SSD
CEL
FLM
ANGAP
Peace Corps
PHBM
SAGE
Project Energie
GTZ
Somontsoy
PSDR
Vola Mahasoa CIDR
SISAL (Ex Medecin du Monde)
Bel Avenir
FITAFA
CAN (Centre National anti acridien)
Projet Toko Mitsitsy Mahafaly (TMM)



And 18 FM radio stations between Ft Dauphin and Tulear

Current : EC, DFID, CNLS ( National HIV AIDS Committee Madagascar)

Clockwork/solar powered radios

Freeplay Model 1, Ranger and now Lifeline

Food security – natural resource management and poverty reduction themes for isolated rural populations – mostly illiterate rural producers, women and children

Eg  farming, animal husbandry, fuel efficiency, forest management, conservation, health, HIV,

1 deliver cost effective non formal education and information which empowers rural producers, women and children to improve food security, agricultural production, disaster preparedness, nutrition, health, and reduce the effects of extreme poverty in Tulear and Fianarantsoa


2 consolidate its existing educational radio network in Tulear Province and build the necessary capacity to transfer management of this network to local PCID partners ( Partners for Communications and Information for Development) and stakeholders for use as a long term communications resource for regional development. and
launch a parallel radio network for development in Fianarantsoa by using methodologies and approach developed in the south, and in partnership with local NGOS, regional authorities, and the donor community.

3 develop a specialised communications professionals able to provide training and consultancy for  improved long term capacity in this sector, and which can act as a rapid response unit to develop vital communications campaigns in synergy with regional development initiatives

Training for partners across all sectors of development, and radio stations, to ensure local capacity to produce and broadcast educational radio programmes on locally identified needs and themes relevant to the development of rural producers, women and children including :

cyclone and weather warnings, disaster preparedness, market prices, food production and storage techniques, agricultural and pesciculture practice, animal husbandry, nutritional advice, natural resource management, locust control, soil stabilisation, energy efficiency, healthcare, family planning, women and child rights, water issues, hygiene, HIV AIDS, governance, education, micro credit, economic opportunities, and regional development opportunities -eg ACORDS

production and broadcast of educational radio broadcasts in synergy with local development action. Regional production units will aim to improve broadcast schedules to marry with local initiatives and activities. Programmes are duplicated on to CD and sent to 18 affiliated radio stations for broadcast each month using CDs, CD burners and off line production studio supplied by Globecom – see below

Upgrade and improved technical capacity of radio stations - using FM radio equipment as required – evaluations of radio stations, specification of equipment and installation and training, supplied by Globecom SA
www.globecom.sa

Distribution of clockwork/solar powered radios to village listening groups to ensure environmentally and economically appropriate technology for regular listening to the educational broadcasts and participation in needs assessments, programme making, and monitoring the impacts of the project. Using Freeplay radios in collaboration with CNLS Madagascar
www.freeplay.com

Partnerships and Networking to generate close collaboration between local NGOs and radio stations in order to develop broadcasting in parallel with local development initiatives, and promote greater participation with listening groups, maximising benefits to the local population

Regional Programme Libraries provide central archiving structure where programmes are duplicated and distributed to radio stations and partners across the region, and where ALT training materials and communications resources can be accessed by local stakeholders

Lessons learnt and methodologies validated from the ALT southern radio network model (Tulear) will feed into training and development of a parallel radio network in Fianarantsoa and act as a blueprint to assist implementation of regional communications policies and infrastructures

 improved access to local and regional communications
 positive impacts on the  knowledge, attitude and practice of local villagers,
 increased ability of local populations to prepare against the effects of natural disaster, e.g. improved food production,
 improved awareness of market prices
 increased participation of women in regional development activities,
 improved understanding on secured land tenure processes, natural resource management and energy conservation
 improved nutritional understanding
 Improved education on health, hygiene, and family welfare
 Improved HIV AIDS awareness
 increased appreciation of learning and school education,;
 Improved awareness of local services
 improved flow of information across the region
 improved participation of communities in regional development activities ,
 increased capacity of local partners to produce educational broadcasts relevant to their disciplines, and to make regular contributions to the regional radio programme library
 increased geographic coverage and or technical capacity of FM radio stations,
 increased ability of partners to manage radio networks
 Increased dialogue, partnership and collaboration between beneficiaries (local partners, listening groups and radio stations)
 strengthening of rural communications infrastructure and rural radio sector for the benefit of the region
 Increased Capacity for Project staff to train partners and stakeholders at local, regional and national level  to use radio as a tool for development
 improved synergy of development action through strategic planning at regional and  local levels

 Distribution of 2000 radios across 2 provinces
 Regional programme making in synergy with development action
 Development of radio networks and libraries towards sustainability,
 Developing the project in Fianarantsoa Province,
 Attracting supports and inputs from other media agencies internationally
 Building improved funding sources at national level for the networks
 Development of local and regional investments into the networks
 Improving profile and recognition of the project, networks and the PCID at national level
 Attracting international support to the project
 Sharing lessons and experience with other radio and media projects nationally and internationally
 Improving capacity of the team and partners in respect of content and production skills
 Increasing dialogue with listening groups and developing more ownership of radio activities at local level

CLOCKWORK AND SOLAR POWERED RADIOS

After a study in 2000 the project estimated the life of the Model 1 clockwork radios in the harsh dusty environment of southern Madagascar was limited. Additional guidelines were given to village listening groups to improve their care and maintenance of the radios. Meanwhile feedback was given to the supplier Freeplay.

Some of the issues experienced with Model 1 radio were solved by using the new model in 2002 the Ranger. This model had a better manual mechanism using dynamo technology instead of the steel spring mechanism and could be wound in both directions. As there is no word for ‘clockwise’ in the local language this had been an area of much difficulty both in terms of training and usage of the radios by the villagers in the initial phase

In the Ranger model, the solar panel was also more solid and implanted into the body of the radio instead of simply stuck on with adhesive. In the extreme heat of the south many of the solar panels of the previous Model 1 were lost due to this limitation.

The new ranger model provided a much better solution therefore for our users and the project needs.

In this next phase, the project will distribute 2000 Lifeline models into two Provinces. It is a new radio for us to use with listeners and we will monitor its effectiveness and user-friendly aspects as well as the technical issues that may arise.

The project will also be looking at small solar adaptor panels, which are proposed for manufacture with a small Not for Profit organization in Madagascar. Used with cheap ordinary radios these will increase the potential for family owned radios. Additional radios in the villages will inevitably increase access to programmes and more flow of information at local level.

At present ALT Project Radio distributes a radio to a group of villagers as part of an exchange process that engages them in listening and debate around programme themes. It also enables the project and its partners to work with village listening groups on programe making and monitoring of impacts. Our research has shown that members of a listening group tend to have a better understanding and appreciation of programme content than those villagers outside a listening group.

The Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) aims to provide social and environmental development projects to empower local populations in southern Madagascar to increase their food security, alleviate poverty, and improve general standards of living.  ALT also works to build capacity on a local level to build a growing base of local professionals who can undertake the work of identifying, creating and implementing development strategies and projects for the region.

ALT works in collaboration with partners in order to develop synergy of development action and to maximise benefits for the local populations.

ALT‘s principle areas of intervention include: Toliara and Fianarantsoa in southern Madagascar