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30-Jun-2010Guinea Holds Historic Elections!Sunday marked the first truly free and peaceful elections in Guinean history! Like other international actors, Search for Common Ground has played a major role from the beginning of the electoral process, campaigning for peaceful elections through its radio programs. SFCG’s synergy project which linked 17 independent radio stations, resulted in the broadcast a unique radio program that was aired by all the stations on election day. Stations received support from SFCG and Radio France Internationale (RFI) in journalistic training. The program was greatly appreciated by partners and Guinean listeners. 21-May-2010Media SynergyA key tool for election reporting and media support for free and fair elections. A Media Synergy brings together a range of radio stations and journalists, building a coalition among them to support nationwide election reporting. Elections present an important opportunity to move forward democratic processes and the public interest. At the same time, they risk to create tension and possible violence given the high stakes of the winner-take-all approach. Media Synergy is an influential and successful tool that Search for Common Ground has used to support recent elections in Burundi, DRC, Liberia and Sierra Leone. A Media Synergy brings together a range of radio stations and journalists, building a coalition among them to support nationwide election reporting. This approach has contributed to preventing rumors, public manipulation, misinformation, parochialism and voter intimidation, while reinforcing the transparent, participatory and credible nature of the election process and its outcomes. The Media Synergy provides joint news coverage collaboration that expands the reach of any one station and reinforces the overall credibility of the information by bringing together journalists from different perspectives into one pool. SFCG targets independent, rural, regional and national radio stations, with Media Synergy members including radio stations from all political, religious and special interest (youth, rural, urban, etc) demographics. By implicating many multi-level media actors before, during and after the election period; by offering an on-air forum for political dialogue on the elections results and the ensuing establishment of the institutions; and by sending trained radio journalists to improve their skills and quality of engagement by quickly relaying real time events, as well as producing radio program broadcast activities, the Media Synergy is ensuring the easy and open access to trustworthy information, enabling for free and fair elections. With several African countries such as Burundi and Guinea facing elections imminently, tensions are rising as politicians launch their campaigns and citizens begin to pick their preferences in the midst of ongoing political, ethnic, and regional divisions. These elections present a critical opportunity for ending political stability and implementing democracy. With support from a range of donors, SFCG will work with radio partners—17 independent stations in Guinea and 14 radio stations in Burundi including the 10 most popular and four with regional leadership—to apply the Media Synergy tool in these sensitive contexts. More information about Synergy and its results in previous elections is available at www.sfcg.org or from rfpa@sfcg.org. 22-Apr-2010Radio for Peacebuilding Training ManualsDramas available in English, Kiswahili, French and Portuguese, (see audio page) that can be used as an advocacy tool for organisations wishing to promote women's rights generally, and the ratification and implementation of the AU Protocol specifically. DRPRadio for Peacebuilding recently recieved two training manuals from Community Media for Development, an organization in southern Africa working to strengthen the use of media and communication for development. The first, Vila Pisa Bem (Step Well Village), is a six-episode radio drama produced in Portuguese and three local Mozambican languages. The drama aims to raise awareness of issues related to landmines, promote safe behaviours among landmine affected populations, and encourage government to meet its commitments to the Mine Ban Treaty. The drama can be used as an advocacy tool, to raise awareness of landmine issues, and as an example of effective communication for social change. The second, a six-part serial drama called Crossroads, focuses on the African Union Protocol on Women's Rights. It comes with a guide booklet that provides radio presenters and organisations with ideas for using the drama, discussion questions, and suggestions for reports or additional research. The drama is available in English, Kiswahili, French and Portuguese, and can be used as an advocacy tool for organisations wishing to promote women's rights generally, and the ratification and implementation of the AU Protocol specifically. Both training manuals are available in English and Portugese and can be found on the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa website. 21-Apr-2010Graca Machel ScholarshipsThe 'Graça Machel Scholarship Programme' will provide scholarships over an initial 3 year period and aims to empower disadvantaged women click here
If you know of any new funding opportunities that we could advertise, please feel free to send us your suggestions to the following email address: rfpa@sfcg.org. 20-Apr-2010Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Reconciliation Traininghttp://www.ipsinstitute.org/bologna/
19-Apr-2010AudienceScapes: A resource for Development
18-Apr-2010Participate!Radio sans frontieres is currently putting together a comprehensive glossary of French community radio terms to promote a common language for radio professionals.
17-Apr-2010REMINDER: ACCRA ConferenceABSTRACTS & PAPERS: info@amdmc.org 18th -20th August 2010, Accra - Ghana: The Africa Media & Democracy Conference invites papers for its annual Africa Media and Democracy Conference. The theme for the Conference is: "Mediating Democracy in Africa". ABSTRACTS & PAPERS: Please email abstracts (maximum one page) along with contact information and a 500-word bio to: info@amdmc.org. All Abstracts must be in English, full papers may be submitted in either English or French.
For further information and other enquiries please contact Conference Team. ENQUIRIES HOTLINE 24HRS: MOBILE: +233 54 3793228 10-Dec-2009UNESCO recruits expert on media in conflict and post-conflict situationsUNESCO recruits expert on media in conflict and post-conflict situations A post of programme specialist is open for recruitment at the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace of UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector. The post is initially planned for the limited duration, from 1 January until 1 September 2010. The major responsibility of the incumbent will consist in implementing projects related to media assistance in conflict and post-conflict areas. Working under the overall supervision of the Director of the Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace Division, the incumbent will have to implement strategies and programmes according to the Organization’s normative work on assistance to media in tension areas and violent conflicts. Enhancing partnership coordination at the international, regional and national levels is another responsibility of this post. Candidates to the post must have advanced university degree in communication, information or political sciences, and 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in implementing communication and information programmes, among which at least 4 years acquired in conflict or post-conflict countries. More detailed information on duties and responsibilities, and qualifications required is available in the post description (PDF). Candidates to this post should send the completed UNESCO Curriculum Vitae (RTF), together with a letter of motivation, by email to: aldfed@unesco.org or by normal mail to: UNESCO Communication and Information Sector – Executive Office 1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France before 24 October 2009, quoting the post reference: ALD/FED.10-Dec-2009The winners of the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa Awards 2009The winners of the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa Awards 2009 were announced. The Awards celebrate radio programmes which help to reduce group and community tensions, which enhance and give value to shared interests, which break down listener stereotypes, and/or which provide positive role models. The final Award winners were chosen from a group of finalists from around Africa. The winners are: Special Award Category: "Crossroads", by Community Media for Development. "Crossroads" is a six episode serial radio drama exploring issues related to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. Created to a high quality broadcast standard, each 20 minutes episode delivers adventure and intrigue, as well as subtly interwoven messages about women's rights. http://www.cmfd.org CMFD produced Crossroads on behalf of FAHAMU (Networks for Social Justice) and the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) as part of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) campaign. The jury said, "Crossroads is a quality radio drama programme with good actors, a well written scenario with messages of empowerment and peacebuilding." It was broadcast in English, French, Portuguese and Swahili and several countries including Kenya and South Africa. Gender Category: "L'arbre à Palabre", a radio program produced by Search for Common Ground's Centre Lokolé (Democratic Republic of Congo). "L'arbre à Palabre" (Dialogue Tree) is a 30- minute French-language magazine programme. For one week in March, the programme focused on gender equality in the Government. http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/drcongo/projects.html An encouragement award goes to Mohamed Ahmed Ilka'ase for his programme ‘Youth employment builds peace in Somalia'. Mohamed Ahmed Ilka'ase: "I am honored to receive the Radio for peacebuilding Africa Award. It means a lot to me, and encourages me to continue my work as a journalist, to give a voice to the voiceless and to promote peace." The jury said, "This programme gives a voice to young people who were involved in the Somali conflict and are now working. It addresses an important issue and promotes peacebuilding."http://www.irinnews.org/radio.aspx Our jury members were: • Kidi Bebey, ex-editor in chief of 'Planète Jeune' and later presenter of 'Reines d'Afrique' on Radio France International (RFI); |
In cooperation with Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the International Symposium in Bologna will bring together up to 100 of the globe's brightest young minds from top graduate institutions, international organizations, grassroots peace movements, and the armed services. Over a four-week period, the participants will undergo intensive training by the field's premier political leaders, academic experts, practitioners, and advocates in the skills necessary to bring peace and security to their communities and to the world. In addition, students may apply to earn graduate-level course credit from SAIS, one of the world's top graduate schools for international affairs. Applications are due 12 May, 2010. To learn more and to apply please visit: 
