Presentation Communication for Empowerment Bjrn Frde UNDP Oslo

Presentation: Communication for Empowerment Bjørn Førde, UNDP Oslo Governance Centre Media, Empowerment and Development Seminar 7 th June 2010 in Copenhagen United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Background Access to relevant information is essential for people to participate and voice their opinion in decisions that directly affect their lifves. Ability of people to participate is also the bedrock of any democratic system and culture. C 4 E stems from UNDP’s Access to Information work, which in addition to supporting countries to strengthen their legal and regulatory frameworks for freedom and pluralism of information sources seeks to strengthen communication mechanisms for vulnerable groups to participate in decision making processes. Given that media is a vital channel of information and communication, UNDP believes strengthening its capacity to meet the information and communication needs of the poor is essential. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

UNDP’s DG architecture 1. Fostering inclusive participation Civic engagement Electoral systems and processes E-governance, independent media and access to information Parliamentary development 2. Strengthening responsive institutions Public Administration reform Local governance Access to Justice 3. Grounding democratic governance in international principles Human rights Gender equality Anti-corruption United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Inclusive Participation Empowering the poor, women, youth, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups, through expanding the core channels of civic engagement, at the national, regional and local levels. 1. 2. 3. Civic engagement is strengthened, thereby empowering all people to influence public policies, through voluntary groups, social movements, trade unions, civic associations, political parties, private sector organizations, and citizen’s audits. Effective electoral channels are improved, including electoral laws, processes and institutions, strengthening inclusive participation. Inclusive communication channels are expanded, including e-governance, independent journalism, and access to information policies, promoting government accountability and transparency. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Responsive Institutions Ensuring that the state reflects and serves the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities, by promoting the core governing institutions of representation and accountability at the national, regional and local levels. 1. 2. 3. Government develops greater capacity to deliver public goods and services, to regulate markets, and to achieve the MDGs, effective economic governance, and crisis prevention and recovery. Representative and inclusive legislatures and assemblies are strengthened, representing the interests of all people. The justice system is more effective, responsive and accessible, promoting the rule of law as well as both formal and informal processes of justice. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

International Principles Promoting knowledge and practices about democratic governance grounded in UN values, including at national, regional, and global levels. 1. 2. 3. Human rights Gender equality Anti-corruption are fully integrated into democratic governance United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

C 4 E approach The C 4 E approach aims to ensure that the media have the capacity to contribute to combating the social and political exclusion of poor people and marginalized groups, by generating the information that they want and need, and providing them with appropriate communication channels to participate in public debate. A key assumption underpinning the C 4 E approach is that poor people need different types of information to meet their specific requirements as well as opportunities to express opinions and preferences on issues that directly impact on their lives. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

UNDP & CSFC UNDP partnered with Communication for Social Change Consortium [CSFC], a leader in enabling poor and vulnerable groups to effectively communicate in decision making processes, to develop the C 4 E approach in 2006. UNDP OGC further collaborated with CFSC Consortium to practically implement the C 4 E approach in five Least Developed Countries. Funded by UN Democracy Fund [UNDEF] the C 4 E approach was piloted in 5 least developed countries. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

C 4 E pilot countries ● Nepal ● Lao PDR ● Ghana ● Madagascar ● Mozambique United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Implementation Information and communication assessments: to understand poor people’s information and communication needs and identify gaps where those needs are not being met. Review of existing research on the media at national level: to get an overview of the media infrastructure, accessibility and environment in the country, including laws and regulations that guarantee media freedom. Programme interventions informed by audit and research findings: these aim to address identified gaps by increasing access to information for poor and marginalised groups, amplifying their voice through appropriate communication channels and creating spaces for public debate. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Methodology The information and communication assessments were conducted in three locations in each of the pilot countries. A mix of qualitative and quantitative survey methods were adopted to conduct the assessments: Household Surveys in three pilot locations Key informant interviews Focus group discussions with village leaders, local government officials, media representatives, NGOs and CBOs Observation by researchers in pilot locations Review of selected existing research and national information data bases Consultations/dialogue with key stakeholders at national level United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Aggregate findings [1 -2] 1. 2. The dominant role of radio, particularly community radio, as an information medium and potentially a strong communication channel for poor people [Findings from all the five countries show the importance of broadcasting in local languages and building the capacity of local journalists in providing more in-depth coverage of local issues. ] The limited confidence and capacity of many poor people to use media to communicate [though large number of women interviewees in Mozambique indicated that they are aware of specific ‘call-in’ programmes, only a fraction of women interviewees felt they would neither have the confidence to participate in such programmes nor to speak in public in traditional forums such as village or grass root meetings]. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Aggregate findings [3 -4] 3. 4. The importance of mixing traditional and new information technologies in strategies designed to improve democratic governance and reduce poverty [The analysis of the data confirms the paramount importance to poorer groups of traditional communication mechanisms and suggests that new information and communication technologies should not supplant traditional information channels such as village and church meetings and also market places. ] The importance of a safe public space in providing support and expanding opportunities for communication and participation in decision-making process. [A high priority is placed on face to face communication by people in all pilot countries. ] United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Aggregate findings [5 -7] 5. 6. 7. The growing importance of mobile telephony [The studies show that there is increasing interaction and synergy between mobile telephony and radio, both FM and community radio stations] The importance of a supportive legal and regulatory environment for the media [Of the five pilot countries only Nepal has a Freedom of Information Law and a National Information Commission] Differential access to the media by men and women. [Findings from all three Ghanaian communities indicate that women have limited control over access to and use of radio with men taking decisions on which programmes to listen to. ] United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Madagascar 90% of respondents cited radio as their primary source of information, and more than half consider the information provided on the radio as most reliable. News, followed by debate most important programme. Only just over half of listeners indicated that they understand the language all the time. Only 29% of women said that they own the radio but this does not prevent them from choosing the programmes they want to listen to. They want more information in: agriculture and markets, health, local services, employment, corruption and the state and government. Village meetings and meetings with elders, followed by exchanges at the marketplace, were considered important. NGOs also play an important role as information sources, because they introduce issue to poor communities, followed by face to face discussions. Local journalists visit local communities sometimes, but rarely involve local people in programme making and debates. Some cultural barriers exist to voicing opinions publicly, and some people feel they do not have the confidence to express themselves in the media. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Mozambique Dondo and Monapo districts have community radio while Mandlakazai has no local media and is only 100 kms from provincial capital. Despite access to community radio, 60% in Dondo and 75% in Monapo say they listen to the national public radio, Rádio Moçambique, when it is time for the main daily news slots. Respondents indicated that they would like to see greater coverage given to health, HIV/AIDS, civic education, corruption, agriculture and markets, environment and small business. Traditional forms of accessing information and communicating face to face at social or religious occasions, village meetings and meetings with government bodies, remain very important. Community radio programmes are structured to give people the opportunity to express their views in public. Radio producers at these stations are volunteers from the community. A significant proportion of people in all three districts believe that journalists prefer to listen to community leaders and do not always represent the interests of vulnerable groups. In Dondo and Monapo 80% of the women and in Mandlakazai 60% of the women were aware of specific ‘call-in’ programmes, but only a fraction have confidence to participate. Some of the benefits of community radio include preservation of local culture and language, local solutions for local problems, communication within districts, increase self-esteem. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Ghana Virtually all male and female respondents in the three areas confirmed that they have radios in their home. In Ada, 100% of males and 78% of females selected the radio as their preferred source of information. In Bonsaaso, which has no community radio stations, 71% of males and 87% of females nevertheless prefer radio. In Nima, with access to other media options, TV and Internet, 50% of males and 37% of females said they preferred listening to the radio. In Ada, Radio Ada, the community radio station is seen as an 'intermediary' in facilitating dialogue with local authorities, politicians, traditional leaders at the grass-roots level. Women, including those from more marginalized and vulnerable sections of the population, participate freely and actively in all aspects of the community radio in Ada. Traditional and religious leaders are considered as authoritative sources of information in Ghanaian society. Churches and mosques were very important information sources. 60% of male and female respondents in Nima reported that the mobile phone was an important tool and was central to conducting their affairs, but in Ada and Bonsaaso fewer than 40% men and 20% women indicated that this is the case. Radio call-in programmes offer an important opportunity for people to participate in public discussions and express their opinion. There is potential to expand this medium to increase opportunities for people to voice and participate in decision making processes. x. Tahomax. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Lao PDR Across the 3 pilots sites over 80% can neither read nor write in their own language and around 40% are illiterate in the Lao language. In all three districts radio is considered the most trusted and useful source of information, closely followed by word of mouth. Over half of those interviewed said that they had a radio at home and a larger percentage said they could listen to radio within the community. Most respondents in Khoun District indicated a preference for their community radio over Lao national radio as they are able to receive local news and current affairs programmes, and information on health and agriculture sectors is broadcast in the three main local languages. Interviewees also value the fact that they can request dedications and hear cultural announcements, so community radio is considered an important uniting force. Village loudspeaker is cited by several respondents in each research location as a key means of receiving information. Interviewees identified a need for more information in: agriculture, market prices, forest conversation and natural resource management, community and enterprise development, health issues, HIV/AIDS, sanitation, ethnic and cultural matters, gender issues. They prefer face to face communication or letters for expressing their concerns or opinions to officials. Most people felt that they have very few opportunities to respond to what they hear or see in the media. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

Nepal Assessment focused on understanding the information and communication needs of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs). On aggregate, Radio is the important source of information, and is widely owned and accessed by 72%% of the respondents. Respondents indicated preference for educational and information programmes rather than entertainment. The coverage of issues relevant to IPs was considered higher on the radio than in any other type of media. Though there are no ‘community run’ radio stations, but some districts have their own local FM stations that cover issues concerning IPs. Key challenges that were identified through the study include the misinterpretation of IP issues in the mainstream media; the need for capacity building programmes for journalists, for media management and editors to enhance their understanding of IP issues; and the need to make existing communication channels, particularly community radio, more inclusive and representative of different ethnic and religious groups. Respondents from all IPs groups indicated that the lack of or negative coverage of issue related to their group was due to lack of journalists from their ethnic group in media agencies. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre

What now? UNDP will disseminate these findings and facilitate linkages with other organizations working on information and communication specifically to consider how emerging issues and challenges identified during the project might best be addressed. How to promote community media in the long term? How best to merge traditional and new communication channels to meet the needs of poor people? How to develop interactive programme formats or reporting styles? Or how to promote innovative use of technologies that would provide cost-effective services to poor and marginalized? Over and above addressing the media capacity to cover issues that are of relevance to poor and vulnerable groups, the study revealed the importance of legal and regulatory frameworks that support media networks to serve their public broadcasting role. UNDP will continue to work with key partners on this issue through its Access to Information area and wider governance programme. The pilot testing of the C 4 E tool in the countries has made it clear that there is a need to balance support to the media with greater emphasis on creating the preconditions for voice through citizen empowerment. Therefore, UNDP and CFSC will produce a revised C 4 E framework which would also incorporate a more explicit gender dimension and provide more guidance to addressing gender-related issues at local level. The framework would also analyse and identify opportunities for promoting stronger national ownership of the C 4 E approach. United Nations Development Programme Oslo Governance Centre