PIONEERING, CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING VOICES FOR CHANGE: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RADIO IN BANGLADESH TO FIGHT POVERTY AND PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT - A BASELINE STUDY

CONDUCTED BY

SUPPORTED BY

OCTOBER 2014, DHAKA, BANGLADESH

L IST OF A CRONYMS , T ERMINOLOGIES AND A BBREVIATIONS BNNRC BTRC CR CRI CSO DC FGD FM

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GOB HR KII MDG NBR NGO

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OC PRSP Sadar Thana Tk TNA UNO/TNO UP Upazilla

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Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Community Radio Community Radio Initiator Civil Society Organization District Commissioner Focus Group Discussion Frequency Modulation - a modulation technique that varies the carrier frequency of a transmitter in accordance with the variations in the strength of the modulating audio signal Government of Bangladesh Human Recourse Key Informants’ (in-depth) Interview Millennium Development Goal National Board of Revenue Non-Government Organization; not-for-profit private voluntary social organization Officer in Charge of a Thana (Police Stations) Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper District Headquarter Police Station; Also Upazilla Taka Training Need Assessment UpazillaNirbahi Officer/Thana Nirbahi Officer (Administrative Officer Union Parishad Decentralized Administrative Structure, often known as Thana or Sub District

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F ORWARD This important baseline study on “Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote development” is a milestone work of BNNRC supported by the European Union (represented by the European Commission) in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited. The findings of the study can potentially demonstrate the wider stakeholders and especially policy makers and development practitioners a new dimension to the Community Radio program activities in resource poor areas not only in Bangladesh, but also in other developing countries of the world. The preparation of this important baseline study would not have been possible without the active support, hard work and endless efforts of a large number of individuals and institutions including the study team. We are grateful to the European Union (represented by the European Commission) and Free Press Unlimited as well as to AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) for their excellent and useful guidance, assistance and their confidence in the team in conducting this important work. We are also thankful to the members of BNNRC especially to: 1. 2.

Syed Kamrul Hasan Mohammad Kamaruzzaman

Coordinator, KM4D & MIS Program Coordinator

We are also thankful to the members of the Study Team, especially Ms Jesmin Sultana and Ms Subrina Khan of ChangeMaker and the volunteers from the 14 Community Radio Stations, for their hard work in field mobilization, data collection and data analysis. The baseline study would not have been successful without the support of the different experts and resource persons particularly the various local and national experts for their valuable contribution in the overall baseline study as Key Informants. The cooperation and patience of all the respondents of the Radio Stations as well as key informants and key stakeholders (local leaders, civil society organizations, academia, key Government and Local Administration personnel) in answering the questions of the baseline study were simply remarkable and the team would never forget their warm cooperation. The baseline study was made easy and entertaining with the active support from all these people working on different capacities. Syed Tamjid ur Rahman Team Leader of Baseline Study and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ChangeMaker: Society for the Social and Economic Development

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T ABLE OF C ONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS, TERMINOLOGIES AND ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................2 FORWARD...............................................................................................................................................................................3 TABLE OF CONTENTS..........................................................................................................................................................4 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................................................................7 Rational of the baseline study............................................................................................................................................................8

KEY OUTPUTS.......................................................................................................................................................................8 BASELINE STUDY OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................................................9

Issues the baseline addressed.............................................................................................................................................................9

Status and capacity of community radio stations.......................................................................................................9 Status and Capacity of BNNRC on Awareness Raising and Lobby &Advocacy.........................................................10 Audience demands and expectations.......................................................................................................................10 SCOPE AND FOCUS............................................................................................................................................................10 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................................................................11 Limitations of the Baseline study......................................................................................................................................................12

BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................................................................14 THE ASSESSMENT..............................................................................................................................................................14 SECTION 1: CR INITIATORS............................................................................................................................................14

Community Radio Broadcasting........................................................................................................................................................15 Locations of CR stations....................................................................................................................................................................15 Primary Frequencies........................................................................................................................................................................18 Time Lag in Operationalize the Radio................................................................................................................................................19 Preferred Designations.....................................................................................................................................................................19 Gender of Core Staffs and Volunteers:..............................................................................................................................................19 Core Staffs of the Stations................................................................................................................................................................20 Educational levels ofthe Staff............................................................................................................................................................21 Experience in Development Work.....................................................................................................................................................22 Experience in Community Radio and Media.....................................................................................................................................23 Length of Service in this Community Radio.......................................................................................................................................24 Trainings Received by the Core Staff.................................................................................................................................................25 Duration of the Trainings Programs..................................................................................................................................................27 Who Took the Most Training.............................................................................................................................................................27 Benefits After Receiving the Training................................................................................................................................................28 New Trainings Needed by the Core Staff...........................................................................................................................................28 Duration of the New Trainings Programs..........................................................................................................................................29 Who would Take the New Trainings.................................................................................................................................................29 Institutional Partnership...................................................................................................................................................................30 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Machinery, Equipment and Tools......................................................................................................................................................31 Listeners Information of Community Radio:.....................................................................................................................................32 Programs Information of Community Radio:....................................................................................................................................33

Reasons for Listening to the Radio...........................................................................................................................36 Preferred Broadcast Locations..................................................................................................................................37 Preferred Radio Listening Time.................................................................................................................................37 Preferred Program Formats......................................................................................................................................38 Listening Frequency..................................................................................................................................................38 STATUS AND CAPACITY OF BNNRC ON AWARENESS RAISING AND LOBBY & ADVOCACY.........................40 Community Film for Social Transformation..............................................................................................................41 Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 4 of 48

BNNRC Staff Members and their Capacity................................................................................................................42 Challenges of BNNRC........................................................................................................................................................................42

MILESTONE EVENTS.........................................................................................................................................................43

Conclusions.......................................................................................................................................................................................45 Way Forwards...................................................................................................................................................................................47

LIST OF ANNEXURE...........................................................................................................................................................49

Annex 1: List of documents consulted..............................................................................................................................................49 Annex 2: Questionnaire and FGD Guide............................................................................................................................................49 Annex 3: Areas wise list of table.......................................................................................................................................................49 Annex 4: Milestone Events of BNNRC Since 2011..............................................................................................................................49

2011 –Milestone Events............................................................................................................................................49 2012 –Milestone Events............................................................................................................................................50

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Community Radio Baseline Study took a process of combination of information gathering and focused action with the goal of community improvement through knowledge and information dissemination using community radio. This assessment is beneficial and crucial in understanding the challenges of the Community Radio Initiators with regards to capacity, human and physical resources, community integration, management, networking, etc. The baseline study is expected to assist the Community Radio Initiators to take appropriate strategic actions to empower the communities by improving their onair contents and developing meaningful partnership with the local institutions. The baseline study is also planned to understand the resources available to the initiators and suggestions to develop capacities of the radio operators. The community radio initiators have operationalized their community radio services to develop an informed community so that they can realize their rights. However, in doing so, the community radio initiators face challenges with a number of issues, such as when and how to target a particular group in the community, whether the information services are truly benefiting the communities, how to develop appropriate contents, how to raise funds, how to develop capacities of the staff, etc. This baseline study attempted to map the status of the community radio stations as of February 2013 and provided critical information about the key stakeholders and the communities. Many CR initiators have reported that they could never envisage the magnitude of the management, administrative and technical as well as financial issues related to the operation when they started the project. For a large number of the stations, the initial startup was not very smooth. There were struggles of acquiring government approval, setting-up the station, understanding technical issues of broadcasting and broadcasting equipment, skilled human resources for the station and of course the critical funding to manage and operate the station. Moreover, high expectations of the different stakeholders including Government from the CR operators were also a significant pressure that the CR operators had to work with. Apart from the Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 5 of 48

above, it was hard for the CR operators to assess the quality, outreach, penetration and benefit related issues of the on-air programs because of lack of skills and resources. The study team believes that a thorough study on the above issues need be conducted to make the CR efforts meaningful. Standards as well as measuring efficiency and effectiveness of the operation are important for the operators to understand where they are going wrong. Because of lack of these standards, the optimum level of operation by a CR operator was difficult to assess since the number of observations and the parameters were too many to make any conclusion. Moreover, some lack of hard evidence, records, and studies also severely hindered our conclusion. Capacity of the staff seems to be one of the important issues. BNNRC in the past has organized a number of training programs on various issues which added significantly to the overall performance of the CR. However, due to inadequate training need assessment, weak selection process of the trainees and lack of focused and intense training as well as weak follow-up, etc., the achievements of these training programs were found to be less visible. High turnover of staff and volunteers were also a challenge faced by the stations in the form of “skills drainout.” BNNRC is an important facilitating organization providing multifarious supports to the CR initiators for quite some time. BNNRC through its limited facilities and financial resources has accomplished almost an impossible task to maximize the achievements and results. It was primarily possible because of the exceptional leadership and the organization’s capacity to maintaining a formal and informal relationship and network with a large number of talents, experts, institutions, agencies and organizations. This external resource blended with the core staff and internal capacities has created a synergy and augmented the results many folds. Even though this proved an extremely useful strategy for BNNRC, the organization should further develop its institutional capacities in terms of human resources and their skills, logistic resources, financial capacities to undertake the challenging task of turning knowledge and information into wealth, equity and strengths.

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PIONEERING, CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING VOICES FOR CHANGE: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RADIO IN BANGLADESH TO FIGHT POVERTY AND PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT - A BASELINE STUDY

B ACKGROUND Community radio is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. The first 14 community radio stations went on air in December 2011, and a couple of applicants are waiting for licenses. In a country like Bangladesh, where the majority of the population lives in rural areas, community radios are the ears and eyes of the poor, marginalized or excluded. They are the voices for participation, the sources of information, and the instruments for mobilization. Free Press Unlimited together with its long-term partner the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) wants to build further the capacity of the 14 community radio stations and to help the others go on air. The capacity will be built through training the journalistic and management staff of the radio stations and through production and distribution of quality content. A strategy plan for financial sustainability of community radio will be developed by BNNRC with the participation of the community radios themselves, local businesses and local government. At the same time, the organizational, technical & lobby and advocacy capacity of BNNRC as the only network organization for community media in the country will be strengthened further. Awareness raising campaigns on the importance of community media for development, on the one hand, and the importance of access to information for promoting transparency and fighting corruption, on the other hand, will be organized on a regular basis. Lobby and advocacy, as well as licensing procedures, for new community radio stations and possibly community TV channels, will be initiated. Through this variety of activities, community radios in the country will be strengthened to promote participation and encourage development. BNNRC has been involved with Free Press Unlimited (earlier as Free Voice) for developing a vibrant community media, particularly community radio sector since 2007. As one of the first partners and donors of BNNRC, Free Press Unlimited supported a number of advocacy and lobby activities (including campaigns and workshops) in the country to raise awareness and initiate adopting of legislation on community radio. Free Press Unlimited also supported the first national baseline study on community radio in Bangladesh (in 2008) -to identify the needs and priorities of community groups, organizations and initiators that have expressed interest to establish community radio stations across the country. Parallel to the baseline study, Free Press Unlimited helped establish the first Community Radio Academy in the country headquartered at BNNRC and started Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 7 of 48

a longer-term program for organizational capacity building of BNNRC. The program includes technical and institutional support, as well as advice and facilitation of knowledge sharing from other community radio development programs supported by Free Press Unlimited (in Peru, Ghana, Nepal and Indonesia). The efforts of BNNRC supported by Free Press Unlimited in the past 7 years (in awareness raising, establishing radio listeners clubs, supporting community radio initiators, lobby for legislation, and preparing license applications) have resulted in the first community radio stations in the country going on air in late 2011.

R ATIONAL

OF THE BASELINE STUDY Free Press Unlimited (FPU) is a Netherlands-based organisation supporting the development of media and journalists in countries where access to and freedom of information is limited. FPU is active in Bangladesh since early 2007 and supports the development of community media and the umbrella organisation Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). Among the activities supported by FPU in cooperation with BNNRC are the first national community radio conference in Bangladesh, as well as a number of lobby and advocacy activities on awareness raising and adopting relevant legislation. Next to that, FPU supports BNNRC to strengthen its organisational, fund raising and lobby and advocacy capacity. In February 2013 FPU and BNNRC were awarded a 24-month grant by the European Union for the project “Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change – Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development”. The overall objective of the action is to strengthen the capacity of community radios in Bangladesh as sources of information on important issues affecting the lives of marginalised groups and as platforms to encourage dialogue between the government and communities when defining policies on poverty reduction.

K EY O UTPUTS 1. Production and distribution of radio programs on poverty reduction (1,200 in total) 2. Capacity building trainings for radio stations (20 stations) 3. Financial sustainability strategy for community radio 4. Capacity building for BNNRC 5. Awareness raising campaigns (at least 8) The project is implemented by FPU and BNNRC and is financed by the European Union. The project runs from February 2013 until January 2015 with a possible extension of 4 months. This is the first base line study for this particular project. Due to the tense security and political situation in Bangladesh for most of 2013, many planned Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 8 of 48

activities were delayed, including this baseline study. The project steering committee decided to conduct a reconstructed baseline study in September 2014 (using primary and secondary data, project administrative data and recall techniques). The reconstructed baseline study is expected to be used further as the basis (and suggest indicators) against which the planned external evaluation at the end of the project period will measure in qualitative and quantitative terms the achievements and impact of the project activities.

B ASELINE STUDY OBJECTIVES The general objective of the baseline study is to reconstruct an objective assessment of the status of community media in Bangladesh, its role as a platform for poor and marginalised communities to express their opinions and its role in poverty reduction efforts of the national and local authorities in Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the baseline study are: 1. Assess the status of the community radio stations prior to the start of the project (in terms of program and technical capacity, capacity and skills of staff and audience perception) 2. Assess the status of BNNRC prior to the start of the project (in terms of technical, human resource and management capacity, including capacity to and implementation of lobby and advocacy activities) 3. Assess the audience perception of the radio stations and content demands prior to the start of the project (in terms of content expectations, listenership habits and frequency, and perception of the audience/communities of the community radio as a platform to express opinions and enable dialogue with the government over development policies)

I SSUES

THE BASELINE ADDRESSED The envisaged study reconstructed the baseline data on the status and capacity of 14 existing community radio stations and BNNRC as an umbrella organisation prior to the start of the project on 1 February 2013. Further, the study aims to reconstruct baseline data on the audience content demands and interests and the perceptions towards the radio programs as contributing to specific changes in the lives of individuals or communities and the community radio's role for poverty reduction and development.

S TAT U S

A ND C A PAC I T Y OF CO M M U NI T Y R AD I O STAT I O NS

The study collected (reconstruct) data on (prior to February 2013): • number of staff at each radio station • equipment available to each station prior to the start of the project • capacity (skills) of staff and number and type of trainings already received and impact

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•

expectations and demands for future trainings and capacity gaps they will fulfil number and types of radio programs produced and broadcast (per week) topics of radio programs and frequency of broadcast existing studies or data on audience financial status and situation prior to the start of the project

• • • •

S TAT U S

A ND

C APAC I T Y

OF

BNNRC

ON

A WA R E NE S S R A IS I NG

A ND

L OB BY &A DVO C AC Y

The study collected (reconstruct) data on (prior to February 2013): • • •

A U D I E NC E

activities implemented by BNNRC in awareness raising for community media, access to information and right to information (types, frequency, results) HR, organisational and technical capacity of BNNRC (including types of trainings received by staff, and number of staff) equipment and infrastructure available to BNNRC prior to the start of the project

D E M A ND S A ND E XP E C TAT I O NS

The study collected (reconstruct) data on (prior to February 2013): • estimated audience per station • frequency of radio listening (per day and per week) • reasons for listening to the radio • preferred programs and reasons for liking/disliking • preferred genres (news, drama, comedy, sports, music, documentaries) and reasons

S COPE AND F OCUS The study has been conducted by Change Maker with the help of BNNRC and a task force of several community radio stations. Change Maker reconstructed the base line data (in line with the above mentioned objectives and issues were addressed) focusing on three stakeholder groups: 1. Community radios 2. BNNRC 3. Audience of community radios ChangeMaker collected primary, secondary and project administration data in cooperation with BNNRC and community radios. ChangeMaker with the help of BNNRC collected the information by using a recall technique – interviews with audience to reconstruct content demands, expectations and listenership habits prior to the start of the project (February 2013). ChangeMaker also analysed the

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collected data and presented in a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative final report (baseline study) The reconstruction paid specific attention to gender – assessment of capacities, needs and expectations of women staff of BNNRC and community radio stations, and content demands, expectations and wishes of female audience of community radio stations.

M ETHODOLOGY The baseline reconstruction used primary and secondary data, as well as data from the project administration. Primary data that already exists at BNNRC and community radio stations as well as secondary data based on external studies, reports, media coverage etc. The study team reconstructed the baseline data on the basis of these three sources (primary, secondary and project administration data) using desk research. Additionally, a recall interview techniques and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data prior to the start of the project (February 2013). BNNRC and community radio stations were involved in the study and data collection process to help the study team to draft a questionnaire for the recall interviews with the audience. At least 3 focus groups per radio station consisting of 8 to 10 listeners each were conducted in each community radio station. A task force consisting of representatives of community radios assisted the research team with the focus groups interviews. Additionally field visits in selected stations (at least 3) phone-in calls, analysis of program content and material, direct observation, participants’ observations and key informants interviews were conducted to enrich the data. The target groups for the focus groups interviews are radio stations staff (for the analysis of program content) and audience (dedicated listeners, i.e., members of listeners’ clubs, but also casual listeners such as anonymous individuals, members of local associations, community groups, non-government organizations and/or inhabitants in coverage area). The focus groups composed with a sample that is representative of the audience. Therefore baseline study used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The qualitative research techniques used in this baseline study includes Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Three FGDs were conducted in each community radio coverage area. The FGDs took into account diversified categories – professional group and women were chosen for the discussions. The issues of participation were ensured and facilitators tried their best to create a favourable environment, so that the participants especially women could make their voices heard. Each FGD consisted of an average of 8 to 10 participants with different variations based on the local needs. Some important issues that were taken into consideration in conducting FGDs were the effective role of the facilitators and ensuring participation. The groups were particularly represented by women and Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 11 of 48

adolescents. The baseline study also included 28 KIIs with local level elected representatives, senior members of CR Management Committee, policy makers,experts,community leaders, teachers, government officials, development activists etc., from the 14 radio stations working areas. (a) Review of Existing Literature: A desk review was conducted on the existing literatures, produced mostly by BNNRC, Change Maker, and academic reports and documents as well as newspaper clippings. A number of materials were also consulted from different Ministries and Department of the Government and the Non-Government Agencies on the situation of local area as well as issues related to knowledge and information access gap, demand and local traditions for collecting information. References of these documents are mentioned in the text as well as at the end of the report. (b) Field Work: Key Informant interview (KII), Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with members of the community, members of civil society, members of local government institutions, etc., were conducted to understand their current level of access to knowledge and information, views on different aspects of social and economic issues, governance, poverty and livelihood situation as well as status of women and children issues. These views are the most important ingredients of the report as they provide both the community people’s reflection on the issues. Practical and present views and struggles of the community people particularly women and the marginalized groups as well as local elites and community leaders on different aspects of access and availability of knowledge and information dynamics have been incorporated in the report.

L IMITATIONS

OF THE B ASELINE STUDY The primary limitation was time and diversified community, particularly the remoteness of the areas. Some of the limitations are provided below: •

•

•

Time – The tight time-frame together with the two big religious holidays (Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Adha) was a challenge the team had to work with; however, the active cooperation of BNNRC and 14 radio stations was extremely helpful to address this. Retrospectiveness of the study – The entire study was conducted looking or directed backwards, especially in time - prior to the start of the project (February 2013) made it quite challenging to acquire correct information because of change in staff position, lack of systematic record keeping, lack of historical documentation and data, etc. However, the relevant information was collected by spending time with the initiating NGOs. Cooperation – Getting adequate attention and time from the senior staff of the stations, government and non-government officers were also a limitation. In few places, the members of local government, community leaders and members of civil society organizations were busy and/or out of station during the study. This made it difficult to acquire information; however this was managed by interviewing the other relevant officers from the same office.

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•

Questionnaire - The questionnaire to understand the past status, specially management, capacity building, machinery/equipment and other critical organizational status was time consuming. For many respondents it was challenging to answer all the questions.

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FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS B ACKGROUND A baseline assessment provides information on the situation the project aims to change. It provides a critical reference point for assessing changes and impact, as it establishes a basis for comparing the situation before and after an intervention, and for making inferences as to the effectiveness of the project. Baseline assessments are generally conducted before the actual project intervention starts so as to serve as a benchmark for examining what change is triggered by the intervention. A baseline assessment is a crucial element in formative research and planning, and in monitoring and evaluation framework. The type of data to be included in the baseline depends on the goals the project aims to achieve, the theory of change underlying the project, and the change indicators that are defined in the monitoring and evaluation framework. Baseline information are generally carried out in such a way so that the same type of data can be collected after the intervention, in order to compare the results and assess the extent of change, or lack thereof. An analysis can be useful to map internal and external factors, especially in change objectives.

T HE A SSESSMENT The community radio initiators have operationalized their community radio services for the benefits of the community. When and how the these community radio initiators are providing the services targeting different groups in the community, and whether that service is truly benefiting and used by the community is an important issue. This Baseline Study is actually a mapping exercise of the status of the community radio stations to have an in-depth understanding about the community, their current methods of accessing knowledge and information, their satisfaction about the existing information service provisions, their needs and expectations from the new alternative information service provision as well as their participation in the alternative community media.

SECTION 1: CR I NITIATORS Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio or visual mass communications medium, but usually one using electromagnetic radiation (radio waves). The receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset thereof. Broadcasting has been used for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, experimentation, self-training, news to know what is happening all around the Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 14 of 48

world and emergency communication through media outlets such as popular radio or TV stations with (or without) advertisements 1.

C OMMUNITY R ADIO B ROADCASTING Bangladesh government has passed Community Radio Installation, Transmission and Operation Policy - 2008 to provide information service to the people of specific locality. So far, the following 14 organizations have been given licenses.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Community Radio SagorGiri 99.2 [(YPSA) Sitakunda, Chittagong Community Radio Nalta 99.2 [Nalta Community Hospital (Satkhira)] Community Radio Mukti 99.2 [LDRO (Bogra)] Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2 [BRAC (MouliviBazer)] Community Radio Barandro99.2 [(Naogaon)] Community Radio Mahananda 98.8 [Proyas (ChapaiNababgonj)] Community Radio Padma 99.2 [CCD (Rajshahi)] Community Radio Jhinuk 99.2 [Srizoni (Jhinaidhah)] Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2 EC Bangladesh (Munshiganj) Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 [MMC (Barguna SadarUpazila)] Community Radio Chilmari 99.2 [ Chilmari, RDRS (Kurigram)] Community Radio Sundarban 98.8 Koyra Upazilla (Khulna) Community Radio Naf 99.2 Teknaf [ACLAB (Cox's Bazar District) Community Rural Radio 98.8 [Agriculture Information Services (AIS) Community Rural Radio (Barguna District)]

These 14 community radio stations ushered a new era by rural broadcasting of 120 hours programs daily within a listeners’ community of 4.6 million of 13 upazilas of the country. These programs reflect the rights and scopes of the disadvantaged community people. This new-media has produced a newgeneration of community radio broadcasters at rural level where a total of 536 youth and young women are contributing their time and effort creatively and thus taking part in nation-building process.

1

2011 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission

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L OCATIONS

OF

CR

STATIONS To have a fair understanding about the existing status, the baseline study was designed to cover all the locations of the CR broadcast areas.

P RIMARY F REQUENCIES The output power of Community Radio Transmitter is 100 watt and its coverage area is 17 KM. In order to provide the distant population of the country with the benefit of community radio, the policy to increase the output power of the transmitter from 100 watt to 250 watt is under process. If the output power is increased, the coverage area is expected to increase and more people could be served with information. As community radio serves in a specific area, a plan has Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 16 of 48

been taken to cover the whole of Bangladesh under three spectrums, which are 98.40 MHz, 98.80 MHz and 99.20 MHz. Currently only two frequencies were allocated for the community radios – 98.8 and 99.2 MHz FM.

T IME L AG

IN

O PERATIONALIZE

THE R ADIO There has been quite a significant time lag between approval and test transmission and eventually the final broadcasting. As per BTRC, after getting the prior permission from the Commission to use the assigned frequency for 7 (seven) days in order to test transmission, the licensee shall have to submit the test transmission report to the Commission. The Inspection team of BTRC will inspect the broadcast method of the organization. The Commission, upon inspection report, will award the License to Operate Radio Communications Equipment to the licensee. The licensee(s) shall have to renew the license yearly2. The struggle was eventually to commission the machinery import procedures, setting up studio, clearing of machineries through approval of BTRC and NBR for waiver of import tax.

P REFERRED D ESIGNATIONS The community radios have a various different designations for their staff; the most popular are Station Manager and Program Producer

2

2011 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission

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G ENDER

OF

C ORE S TAFFS

AND V OLUNTEERS : The assessment shows that the Community Radios are primarily dominated by Male (78%).

While very interestingly the ratios of female volunteers are higher (51%) than male volunteers (49%)

C ORE S TAFFS

OF THE S TATIONS Majority of the Community Radio Stations have 5 Core Staffs except for Radio Chilmari with only 3 staff. Radio Naf and Radio Padma have 6 core staff each.

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It was difficult to make a conclusion about the ideal number of core staff, since with only 3 staff Radio Chilmari producing effective results in the locality. The listeners of Radio Chilmari not only inform their opinions and reactions on news, but also on other programs regularly. Radio Chilmari has become one of the primary medium of information-reaction of the community. Some of the listeners even come to the station in person to put forward their comments about the radio. Radio Chilmari is currently airing programs between the hours of 7am to 8am and 6pm to 7pm. The schedule includes programs on Agriculture, Education and Natural disasters, Srotar Ashor (audience time in Bangla) different short dramas, jingle and news on development. On the other hand Radio Padma is operating with a large variety of activities. Three sound-proof studios, decorated with necessary equipment have been set up for making programs and news for Radio Padma. Various educational, entertainment and informative programs are being aired everyday between the hours of 7am and 1.30am. As a result, Radio Padma required more people to manage their operation. The key achievement of Radio Padma is building a young and efficient team through adequate training, who are currently working with sincerity to broadcast program and run the station.

E DUCATIONAL

LEVELS OF THE S TAFF The assessment found that the majority of the core staff of the radio station has completed their Graduation. The second most education degree is Masters. There are only a few Under SSCs and Diplomas. On the other hand, the education levels of the volunteers are mostly high school with a few exceptions of college education

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E XPERIENCE

IN

D EVELOPMENT W ORK The assessment found that majority of the core staff of the radio station has

experience in different development works. The development works varies from field work to managing micro finance. The high numbers of core staffs of Radio Krishi and Radio Sundarban not having experience in development activities also have impacts on program development and delivery. It would be interesting to find out if it has any significant implication on program delivery.

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The experience of development works of the volunteers was generally limited to community clubs and school activities with a few exceptions of NGO volunteering works. It shows that Radio Palli Kantha, Lokobetar, Chilmari and Sundarban have the highest number of volunteers with little or no experience.

E XPERIENCE

IN

C OMMUNITY R ADIO

AND M EDIA It was found that a large majority of the core staff of the radio stations have previous experience in radio or media related activities. Only a few did not have any informal media. It was difficult to assess the level of experience of these people and it was beyond the scope of the study to conduct a TNA. It shows that again Radio Lokobetar, Krishi and Sundarban have the highest number of core staff with little or no experience.

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The general scenario of experience of volunteers shows that some of the radios have to start with little or no experience of volunteers. Such as Radio Pallikantha, Lokobetar, Chilmari, Sundarban and Krishi to a large extent had to work with volunteers with little or no experience.

L ENGTH

OF

S ERVICE

IN THIS C OMMUNITY R ADIO Majority of the core staff and volunteers of the radio stations have been working in the community radio since the inception. However it was reported that there has been significant turnover of both employees and volunteers since inception.

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T RAININGS R ECEIVED

BY THE C ORE S TAFF It was found that a large number of core staff and volunteers of the radio station received a number of trainings while serving in this radio station. The most frequent trainings are provided below. Majority of the trainings were arranged and organized by BNNRC and sponsored by different national and international organizations. A team of resources persons were arranged from different public and private organizations, academic institutions and media agencies. However a number of issues related to the training program were discussed by the FGD participants regarding the need for such program, duration, selection of participants, as well as training outcomes. It was however felt that a comprehensive training need assessment, selection of appropriate staff, selection of resource persons, training delivery and modality, etc., should have been looked more closely.

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D URATION

OF THE T RAININGS P ROGRAMS Most of the training programs are limited to one or two days. A few had more than two-day duration. Majority of the trainings were arranged in Dhaka, a few were arranged in the region or divisional headquarters.

W HO T OOK

THE

M OST T RAINING It was found that the following persons were trained frequently while serving in this radio station. Personnel most frequently took trainings are, Station Manager followed by Program Producer, Technical Producer, Volunteers. It was raised by different stakeholders regarding the selection process for training as well as the assessment for training programs

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B ENEFITS A FTER R ECEIVING

THE T RAINING The training programs are one of the critically important interventions for the community radio; however these programs could have been designed based on sound need assessments. There has been some sporadic post training evaluation or follow-up from the training programs which made it difficult to assess the true benefits of the training. However, the key benefits of after receiving the trainings as mentioned by the core staff are as follows:

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N EW T RAININGS N EEDED

BY THE C ORE S TAFF Majority of core staffs along with volunteers of the radio station expressed that they require the following new trainings to effectively improve the program:

The core staffs believe that the present capacities are inadequate to effectively manage and operate a community radio, particularly being a new media. However, they believe that writing effective script is one of the biggest challenges that majority of the community radio operators face. Creativity together with clear understanding of media dynamics is one of the impediments in effective script writing. Also there are lack of appropriate understanding of audience and the local community It is interesting to note that although, many of the volunteers being new, they expressed a number of critical areas for developing their capacities to effectively work in Community Radio.

D URATION

W HO

OF THE N EW T RAININGS P ROGRAMS Majority of the core staff of the community radio feels that duration of the training program should be more than 3 days and the trainings should be residential.

WOULD

T AKE

THE N EW T RAININGS The following designated persons were mentioned for the new trainings:

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I NSTITUTIONAL P ARTNERSHIP Number of institutions that have close working relationship with the community radio ranges from Government to Non-Government as well as Private Sector organizations. Institutional Partnership is considered one of the strengths of the CRs for not only mobilizing resources but also valuable knowledge, information as well as skills. For example the local staff of Bangladesh Betar (National Radio) or Commercial radio can be of immense help in a number of issues. Government line agencies and institutions (such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, education, health, youth, etc.,) have different resources which can be shared with the community through their involvement. The NGOs can support in the volunteering activities and share their value experiences and community priorities such as gender, livelihood, rights, etc. Apart from this BNNRC is one of the key shareholder and institution that has been providing assistance to the stations relentlessly on various diversified issues. These stations can engage with BNNRC in a more intense relationship to implement and take forward other BNNRC activities. The following graph shows that CR believes that their major institutional partners are MOI, Upazilla Parishad, BTRC and Bangladesh Betar. Apart from the articulated institutions in the graphs, a few mentioned schools, local elites, and journalists to be one of the partners

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M ACHINERY , E QUIPMENT

AND T OOLS A community radio would require a host of equipment, machinery and tools to reach the intended messages to the audiences3. As a result, setting up a community radio station can be a daunting job. Everything from mixers to microphones, transmitters to tele-balance units need to be procured / imported and it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer number of options available. The exact equipment one can buy for a community radio station depends on a number of factors such as budget, the size of team, number of reporters that will be in the field, number of hours a day the radio would like to be on air and if that will be broadcasting mainly live content or also predominately pre-recorded materials. The above mentioned factors directly influence the requirements of equipment to suit the radio station. The simplest setup to get a radio on the air with limited budget can still sound professional and have enough microphones for a host with two guests in the studio, and two reporters bringing interviews and stories from 3

Equipment are generally physical resources serving to equip a person or thing, while machines are any device that uses energy to perform some activity and tools are devices that aid in accomplishing a task.

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the field. A 100 Watt transmitter with a high gain antenna can broadcast up to 30 kilometres in all directions depending on the height of the antenna and the surrounding terrain. The primary equipment would include: • • • • • • • • • •

8 Channel Mixer (4 Mic/4 Line) 5 Dynamic Microphones 4 Studio Headphones 2 CD/Mp3 Players 1 Laptop PC (with radio software) 1 Long Play Cassette Recorder 2 Portable Digital Recorders/ Voice Recorder 4 Microphone Stands 1 Pair of Studio Monitors 1 100 Watt FM Transmitter and other accessories

L ISTENERS I NFORMATION

OF C OMMUNITY R ADIO : Community Radio Stations, in general, do not have much good grip about their audiences. The two national research conducted by UNICEF and the other Ministry of Information are the two major documents that majority of the stations are working with. Many of the CR operators do not have access to appropriate

research documents that were undertaken by different institutions within and Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 29 of 48

outside the country; as a result, the stations are developing and broadcasting programs mostly based on their general understanding of the audience. This void of information regarding audience has also affected the estimated number of listeners. For example Radio Sagar Giri claims that they have approximately 4 million listeners, which is probably based on the total population living in the 17km radius of broadcast range. The community radio audience is dominated by youths in almost all the stations. One of the reasons are the program contents and program deliberations are focused more on this age group such as songs, drama, issues and even phone-in participation are generally focused on youths. The second audience group has been found to be women primarily housewives and have little or no scope for other alternative media such as TV. Although content wise there are very little focused programs directed towards women, the general listening habit of the women have been found to be higher. Although children focused program contents are also extremely low, but the figure in the graphs shows quite noticeable, because of their listening to the programs when other members of the family are listening. The following graph shows that major audience when see from 100 as base figure.

P ROGRAMS I NFORMATION

OF C OMMUNITY R ADIO : The following are the most popular programs of all the Radio Stations:

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AUDIENCE DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS The study collected (reconstruct) data on (prior to February 2013) regarding number of audiences served by each community radio station and the different preferences of audiences regarding program and their contents, time of broadcast, etc. Prior to February 2013, the following radios were in full operation. Sl.

Locations

1

Amtoli, Barguna

2 3

Barguna Bogra

Community Radio Stations Community Rural Radio (CRR) LokoBetar Radio Mukti

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

ChapaiNawabganj Jhenidah Koyra, Khulna Kurigram Moulavi Bazar Munshiganj Naogaon Rajshahi

Radio Mahananda Radio Jhenuk Radio Sundarban Radio Chilmari Radio PalliKantho Radio Bikrampur Barendra Radio Radio Padma

12 13 14

Satkhira Sitakunda, Chittagong Teknaf

Radio Nalta Radio SagarGiri Radio Naf

Name of the Initiators & Community Radio Location Agriculture Information Service (AIS) [Ministry of Agriculture] Agriculture Extension Office, Amtoli, Barguna. Mass-line Media Center (MMC), Animal Hospital Road (Kathpatti), Barguna, Barguna Landless Distressed Rehabilitation Organization (LDRO), AlamManjil, House D/38, Road 2, Block-C Sherpur Road, Sutrapur, Bogra ProyasManobikUnnayan Society (Proyas MUS), Belepukur, ChapaiNawabganj Srizony Bangladesh, 111, Pabahati Road, Pabahati, Jhenidah Broadcasting Asia Bangladesh, Chandipur, Amda, Koyra, Khulna RDRS Bangladesh, Chilmari, Kurigram BRAC, MatharKapon, Chandnighat, Moulavi Bazar Sadar, Moulavi Bazar Environment Council Bangladesh (EC Bangladesh), Dewvogh, Munshiganj Naogaon Human Rights Development Association (NHRDA) Ukilpara, Naogaon Center for Communication and Development (CCD Bangladesh), Holding 418/A, Ward 25, Monafer More, Rajshahi Nalta Hospital & Community Health Foundation (NHCHF), Nalta, Kaliganj, Satkhira Young Power in Social Action, Ayesa Villa, Collage Road, Sitakunda, Chittagong Alliance for Cooperation and Legal Aid Bangladesh (ACLAB), Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.

In a study conducted jointly by Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh in March 2012 reveals that quite a large number of people regularly listen to radio. Moreover, the recent campaign and regular broadcast of community radio in the locality have increased interest among the local people. This interest has substantially increased listening rate in the local area which is recent phenomenon. However, to overcome the bias in the baseline, the research insisted on the habit rather than present interest, as a result, 60% respondent expressed that they listen to radio “sometimes” while 34% expressed that they listen to different radio programs “always” 4.

4

ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

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Whether Listen Radio Regularly/ Frequency of Radio Listening

1

Always

289

34.4

34.6

Cumulative Percent 34.6

2

Sometimes

500

59.5

59.8

94.4

3

Never

47

5.6

5.6

100.0

Total

836

99.5

100.0

4

0.5

Missing

Not Answered

Total

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

840

100.0

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

R EAS O NS

FOR

L I ST E NI NG

TO T H E

R A D IO

The primary reasons for listening radio are to get authentic information specially certain government news, directives, weather and cyclone information, etc. It may be mentioned here a large number of population do not have radio set. However, majority of the cell phones have radio options, because of the large mobile phone penetration the listening has increased significantly. In the rural area, majority of the households do not have other sources of media such as TV, Video players, etc. As a result the “mobile phone” Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 33 of 48

related entertainment is one of the primary sources. As such it is increasingly being seen that people listen to and watch movies and songs through mobile phones. There are shops in the rural areas which transfer or upload songs and movies in the mobile phone SD card at a fee (Tk10).

P R E F ER R E D B ROA D C AST L O C AT I O NS When asked which radio broadcast location is generally preferred, about half of the respondent expressed that they listen to National broadcast. About (40%) prefers listening to local radio stations. According to the respondents, the local radio provides much detail information of the local area, even the drama, songs and news are focused more on the local issues. This shows a demand for even more local content of radio broadcast.

Preferred Broadcaster

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

1

Local

338

40.2

40.9

40.9

2

National

412

49.0

49.9

90.8

3

International

76

9.0

9.2

100.0

826

98.3

100.0

Total Missing

Not Answered

Total

14

1.7

840

100.0

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

P R E F ER R E D R AD I O L I ST E NI NG T I M E The community people generally listen to National broadcast about 40% prefers listening to local radio stations. The local radio provides much detail information of the local area, even the drama, songs and news are focused more on the local issues. This shows a demand for even more local content of radio broadcast. It can be seen from the table below that there is quite a large number of people (9%) who listen to the radio very early in the morning. However, people generally tend to listen to radio more from 2pm onwards till 10pm. The largest concentration is around 4pm to 6pm.

Preferred Radio Listening Time

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

1

06 am to 08 am

146

9.3

9.4

9.4

2

08 am to 10 am

115

7.3

7.4

16.8

3

10 am to 12 pm

129

8.2

8.3

25.1

4

12 pm to 02 pm

141

9.0

9.1

34.2

5

02 pm to 04 pm

212

13.5

13.7

47.8

6

04 pm to 06 pm

241

15.3

15.5

63.4

7

06 pm to 08 pm

229

14.5

14.7

78.1

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8

08 pm to 10 pm

211

13.4

13.6

91.7

9

10 pm to 12 am

129

8.2

8.3

100.0

1 0

Others (specify)

0

0.0

0.0

100.0

1553

98.6

100.0

Total Missing

Not Answered

Total

22

1.4

1575

100.0

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

P R E F ER R E D P ROG R A M F OR M AT S The community people expressed that they generally listen to songs (35%) followed by news (33%). Radio drama is the next popular program (14%) people prefer. Radio Magazine and Discussion or Talk Show is the least preferred program. A few people expressed religious program, sports and agro based programs.

Preferred Program Types

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

1

Songs

292

34.8

34.8

34.8

2

Drama

118

14.0

14.0

48.8

3

Magazine

59

7.0

7.0

55.8

4

Discussion/Talk Show

62

7.4

7.4

63.2

5

News

273

32.5

32.5

95.7

6

Others (specify)

100.0

Total Missing

Not Answered

Total

36

4.3

4.3

840

100.0

100.0

0

0.0

840

100.0

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

L I ST E NI NG F R EQ U E NC Y The community people generally listen to the different radio programs daily, while the second largest concentration is weekly. A few people expressed that they are not regular, however, they listen when time and opportunity permits or during any special events such as a national issue, disaster, sports, election, etc.

Listening Frequency

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

1

Daily

429

51.0

51.2

51.2

2

Weekly

228

27.1

27.2

78.5

3

15 Days

64

7.6

7.6

86.1

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4

Monthly

81

9.7

9.7

95.8

5

Others (specify)

35

4.2

4.2

100.0

837

99.6

100.0

3

0.4

840

100.0

Total Missing Total

Not Answered

Source: ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012

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BNNRC INSTITUTION S TATUS AND C APACITY OF BNNRC ON A WARENESS R AISING AND L OBBY & A DVOCACY Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a National Networking Body on Community Media Working for Building a Democratic Society based on the Principles of Free Flow of Information, Equitable & Affordable Access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for remote & marginalized population. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication represents the community media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners. Much of the BNNRC’s work has a strategic emphasis and the organization has been intensely involved in policy advocacy on behalf of the Community Media sector with Government, the regulator Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and other strategic bodies regarding Policy on Community Radio & Broadcasting, Proposed Policy on Community Television, Community Radio Trust Fund, Amateur Radio Operation, Community Media Literacy, and Spectrum allocation. BNNRC provides a range of advice, information and consultancy, offering support to anyone with an interest in the sector of Community Media through Building Capacity, Research and Development & Technical Cooperation. Supporting Organization on Community Media like Community Radio, Community Television, Community Film, ICT for Development and Amateur Radio Operation currently exceeds around 250, bringing together established organizations, aspirant groups and individuals within the sector.BNNRC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations from 2010. BNNRC is registered with NGO Affairs Bureau of Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh as a Network and established in 2000 as per Article 19 charter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: 'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.'

BNNRC's outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating Knowledge for Development (KM4D). In this backdrop, Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 37 of 48

communication is recognized as an essential human need and, therefore, as a basic human right. BNNRC’s working strategies are: Communicating on the Public Sphere: The role of communication and media in exercising democratic political participation in society 2. Communicating Knowledge: The terms and means by which knowledge generated by society is communicated, or blocked, for use by different groups. 3. Civil Rights in Communication: The exercise of civil rights relating to the processes of communication in society & 4. Cultural Rights in Communication: The communication of diverse cultures, cultural forms and identities at the individual and social levels. 1.

BNNRC now strives for the following core interventions to contribute in achieving 6th five Years Plan of Government of Bangladesh, UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan, and UN Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) through: • • • •

C O M M U NI T Y F I L M

FO R

Community Broadcasting (Community Radio & Community TV Community Film) for amplifying voices for the voiceless Right to Information (RTI) for ensuring improved livelihood of the marginalized ICT for Development for Bridging the Digital Divide in rural areas Amateur Radio or HAM Radio for Disaster Risk Reduction

S OC I A L T R A NS FO R M AT I O N

BNNRC has been struggling for the last 14 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, Community Television) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless rural people. The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become a reality. Currently 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 536 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters. 14 community radio stations presently cover more than 4.6 million listeners of 67 upazillas of 13 districts. BNNRC has already established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) Community Radio Help Desk 24x7 and Monthly Community Media News Letter to share development news & building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh.

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BNNRC is supported by contributions from different development organizations worldwide who share a commitment in building a free, independent and pluralistic community media of voices for the voiceless. BNNRC has started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up Community Television for Development. It is believed that community television will come into being within a very short time in Bangladesh.

BNNRC S TA FF M E M B E RS

A ND T H E IR

C A PAC I T Y

BNNRC's staff members are the key to their continued success. Staff members are the backbone of BNNRC. And this exceptional team is bolstered by an enthusiastic and experienced Board of Trust. The staff strength was 8. 1

Name AHM Bazlur Rahman

Designation Chief Executive Officer

2

Md. Kamaruzzaman

Program Coordinator

3

Mark Manas Saha

Program Coordinator

4

Syed Kamrul Hasan

5

Ms Tamanna Rahman

Coordinator Knowledge Management for Development (KM4D) and MIS Coordinator -Training

6

Md. SerajUddin

7

Ms Syeda Amena Akhter Ankhi

Coordinator - Finance and Corporate Affairs Accounts Officer

Education MSS in Government & Politics BSS (Hons.) MSS BSS (Hons.) MSS BA (Hons.) MA

Training Represented in different lobby and advocacy forums, initiated and organized advocacy events Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation

MSS in Sociology M.Com In Accounting M.Com

Training of Trainer (ToT)

Effective Report writing, Monitoring and Evaluation

Financial Management Office Management

These personnel are working in BNNRC for quite some time and have been involved in all the program activities undertaken by BNNRC. Apart from the core staff, BNNRC relay on a number of experts, resource persons from different government, non-government and private sectors. These resource persons and experts work closely with BNNRC in implementation of their work. Currently there are about 25 such resource persons attached to the organization.

C HALLENGES

OF

BNNRC Media in general and community radio media in particular is comparatively a young industry in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi media in general suffers from low ethical standards and a lack of qualified journalists resulting in poor overall quality of the media. This leaves the public deprived of accurate and relevant information. On a regional scale, the lack of journalistic skills and training is even bigger, not many journalists (and citizens), know about the details of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and about their right to gather information for investigative journalism. In addition, both access to information and participation in media remain problems in rural communities. High illiteracy rates (50% of our people are illiterate) and a large number of drop-outs are among the potential Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 39 of 48

causes for low levels of access to information and participation in media. 85% of the Bangladeshi population lives in rural areas. These areas lag far behind in terms of development, exemplified by lack of basic services such as education, health clinics, infrastructure and electricity. As the voice of rural citizens is not reflected in mainstream media, they have less opportunity of participation in the developmental process of their respective locality and remain isolated. Despite the recent media boom in Bangladesh, rural citizens continue to have very limited access to media. In 2014, 35.9% of rural people did not have regular access to Radio, TV, Newspapers or magazines and were therefore effectively “media dark” (on an average 28.5% in Bangladesh).The situation is the worst in the case of women. They have limited access to sources of information and income and their participatory levels in government, decision-making and the economy are very low as well. BNNRC is concerned with the above situation since its inception. However, licensing of new television stations and of community radio in 2009 and strategies to stimulate the active use by media and by the wider public of their right to information (e.g., Government’s formation of Information Commission) are important steps from the govt. BNNRC, since its inception in 2000, is involved in policy advocacy with the Government decision-makers to formulate a Community Radio Policy and Right to Information Act. In subsequent years, the organization has been involved to develop the capacity of the 14 Community Radio Initiators throughout the country, with its limited resources. BNNRC is convinced with the fact that access to information and participation in media are essential for the community development. Therefore by its present interventions, BNNRC is trying to promote community media and improve the skills of the involved professionals in the sector and thus provide a platform for rural citizens (the voiceless community) and media practitioners to raise their issues, to ensure their right to information and take effective part in public debate. This is an undeniable fact that BNNRC lacks resources and capacity to address the above issues effectively, although it has its vision and commitment to work for the cause. BNNRC is an important facilitating organization providing multifarious supports to the CR initiators for quite some time. BNNRC through its limited facilities and financial resources has accomplished almost an impossible task to maximize the achievements and results. It was primarily possible because of the exceptional leadership and the organization’s capacity to maintaining a formal and informal relationship and network with a large number of talents, experts, institutions, agencies and organizations. This external resource blended with the core staff and internal capacities has created a synergy and augmented the results many folds. Although this an extremely useful strategy for BNNRC, however, BNNRC should develop its institutional capacities in terms of human resources and their skills, logistic resources, financial capacities to undertake the challenging task of turning knowledge and information into wealth, equity and strengths.

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BNNRC since 2011 undertook a number of advocacy, lobby and social mobilization activities to promote access to information as a critical need for poverty alleviation. The detail milestone events are provided in the Annex-4

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CONCLUSIONS AND WAY FORWARD C ONCLUSIONS From the baseline study it was found that skills as well as capacities are two most critical issues for effective community radio broadcasting. By effective community radio broadcasting we mean a broadcasting process where the community will not only participate, but where the broadcasting also meant for community advancement. The community radio stations have different challenges regarding accessing critical knowledge and capacity in terms of tools and equipment, utilities, skilled manpower, resources, etc., to appropriately integrate the community. Insufficient resources for developing local content are a significant impediment in making the community radios an effective tool for community advancement. Many of the station initiators however, believes that local informal communication especially word-of-mouth communication in a “tea-stall” were found to be more popular and effective in the rural communities; although it may have different distortion in the massages. The community people believes that a local contextual knowledge and information particularly that addresses the urgent needs of the marginalized people specially women can prove to be extremely useful to the local community if they are designed as per the current struggles of the target groups. Although there has been fairly a good consensus by the experts that applied social and economic information do have the potential to improve the present life and livelihood as well as present local social and economic performance they feel that only knowledge and information is not sufficient. Appropriate mobilization activities to make the local government, local administration, the MPs, the local institutions understand the realities are utmost important. It is important to note that improving the present status of the local community and its relevance to livelihood and quality of life of women and marginalized is not limited merely to the knowledge and information, but has critical dynamics of true participation and ownership of the marginalized groups particularly the women and children and a commitment from all levels of people in the community. The most successful results can be harnessed by involving women and youth as well as key community leaders with experience in issues related to life and livelihood. An inclusive knowledge and information system can effectively address the present struggles of the target people. The Community Radio programme activities that are focused on developing appropriate knowledge, awareness and capacities of not only the target groups but also the key members of community and the service providers to improve Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development - A Baseline Study ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development Page 42 of 48

quality of life and livelihood has the demand in the community. Gaining the involvement, participation, cooperation of community people as participants can be challenging, often, because of their lack of readiness in accessing information through radio. The role of women in critical decision making process could also become a critical challenge since the women find it hard to identify themselves as participants in the decision-making process. CR initiative requires cooperation among many stakeholders. CR initiators must consider their questioning strategy to elicit appropriate information about availability and access to not only social and economic knowledge and information but also critical government and nongovernment services, their roles in delivery of basic services such as health, education, water-sanitation, etc. The Community Radio initiators may consider working closely with community people and the government and nongovernment service providers to secure collaboration to compliment and supplement in areas of their respective weaknesses. Other agencies, such as those dealing with information, can also assist in the process of knowledge and information dissemination, fact findings, information collection, programme designing, follow-up, etc. The dynamics of the local community radio particularly focusing on local needs and demand of the local people will require a well-capacitated and well-informed program personnel and stakeholders with equally well organized appropriate knowledge and information dissemination system. The baseline study shows that the conceptual clarity of community radio operation that focuses on local issues is extremely important and critical for the success of community radio initiators and members of the community institutions in Bangladesh. Identification of urgent and critical information need and right and timely dissemination of information is important to address the present information void. The overwhelming demand for different knowledge and information by the community is critically challenging the information service providers- their skills, creativity, community integration, feedback mechanism, monitoring tools, etc. In a study conducted jointly by Ministry of Information, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh in March 2012 reveals that community people specially women and children find it hard to identify themselves as participants for the community radio due to persistent neglect and lack of knowledge of community technologies. Community radio operation requires cooperation among many stakeholders. Community radio initiators may consider working closely with community people and the service providers to secure corroborating testimony from rights violation, and consult with authorities, NGOs/CBOs that provide services and advocacy to the targeted community. Other agencies, such as those dealing with information, can assist community radio initiators in the process of fact findings, information collection, program designing, follow-up, etc5. 5

ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh,

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W AY F ORWARD The baseline study has identified a number of key issues relating to the community radio institutions, local community, BNNRC’s capacity as a facilitating organization and the opinions of the different stakeholders and experts regarding community radio. These issues can become extremely useful to address the present status of community radio stations, their source and deliberation of knowledge and information challenges to the local communities through using the power of community radio. •

Conceptual clarity about community radio and community building: Community radio is a new concept in Bangladesh particularly its need, operation, management, services, etc. A community radio that focuses on development issues is not very clear to the CR initiators neither to the community people and the local institutions. Clarifying the role and way to participate with the overall operation with the information dissemination process is important that integrates the different community groups, institutions (UP Upazilla and Zilla (District) level through a unified common understanding. This conceptual clarity is also required for the key administrative, monitoring committee people as well.

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Awareness creation program to increase participation of local community: The community people suggested a more concrete awareness program on community radio and their role and its operations and its benefits to the community people.

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Developing Appropriate Radio Contents to improve the present challenges of the community: The local community radio requires a significant capacity development in developing appropriate radio contents in participation with local people focusing on the present status of the community particularly relating to their access and preference to critical and urgent development information, level of knowledge and practices in the working area. It is important to note that the content should focus the women and should also be women friendly.

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Building Local Contents on the Existing Information and Knowledge base: The study identified that a number of existing local knowledge, practices and information dissemination initiatives are remarkably impressive at the local level. Local Community Radios can capitalize on these existing information and knowledge base and build further based on the local contexts appropriate to the target community

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Review of Progress: It is important that periodic review should be undertaken to understand and appreciate the changes in the present status

March 2012

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of the community particularly relating to their access and preference to information, level of knowledge and practices regarding development issues, health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation practices of the target audience living in the working area and should also note the changes against the benchmark provided by the baseline study. •

Improving Capacities of the CR Initiators: The CR Initiators require a number of critical capacity enhancement 1. Skill of the current staff: A thorough training needs assessment and careful selection criteria for staff skills development selection process are required. 2. The training module needs to be reviewed and updated to match the wider objective “Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change”

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Options for Competition: BNNRC should develop an option for competition on a number of issues – such as best content development, best volunteer management, best community participation, best visible social benefits, etc., to encourage the CR stations to practice improved professionalism, apply learning, encourage creativity.

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Introduction of Challenge Fund: The Community Radio stations can propose innovative program concepts for Challenge Fund Grant. The programs may have visible results of empowerment and social change. This option can encourage the stations to culture creativity and achieve results

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Introduction of Matching Grant: Matching grants can help stations to raise funds creatively from local community and through sponsorship of programs in a highly creative way. BNNRC can match a certain portion of the locally raised fund to encourage them practice local resource mobilization

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Developing Capacities of BNNRC to provide strategic support and Assistance to the CR Initiators: BNNRC need to develop its capacity in terms of staff, outreach, documentation and capacity building provisions for the CR Initiators. Institutional capacities in terms of human, technical and financial resources are extremely critical to meet the present and future challenges of the sector.

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L IST OF A NNEXURE A NNEX 1: L IST

OF DOCUMENTS CONSULTED 1. ChangeMaker, “Community Radio Needs Study: A Study on 14 Community Radio Station (CRS) Areas in Bangladesh”, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Unicef-Bangladesh, March 2012 2. Project Document: Pioneering, Connecting and Empowering Voices for Change: Strengthening Community Radio in Bangladesh to Fight Poverty and Promote Development, BNNRC 3. Community Radio in Bangladesh: Achievement and Challenge, BNNRC 4. Momentum for Change: Community Radio in Bangladesh - Using Community Radio To Fight Poverty, BNNRC 5. Voices of Change: Strategic Radio Support for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Information and Communication for Development (ICD) of Department for International Development (DFID) Translated in Bengali by BNNRC 6. Handbook for Good Governance and Development of Community Radio BNNRC, Bangladesh. 7. National Strategy for the Implementation of Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operations Policy in Bangladesh Ministry of Information, People's Republic of Bangladesh 8. Community Radio Operation, Establishment and Broadcasting Policy 2008 Ministry of Information, People's Republic of Bangladesh 9. Momentum for Change: Community Radio in Bangladesh BNNRC Bangladesh

A NNEX 2: Q UESTIONNAIRE A NNEX 3: A REAS

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A NNEX 4: M ILESTONE E VENTS

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BNNRC S INCE 2011

2011 –M IL E STO NE E V E NT S •

Need Assessment Study in 14 CR station areas on the Community Needs:The facilitation of a baseline needs assessment study in the year 2011 under the financial assistance of UNICEF during (September 2010December 2011) was the starting point

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2012 –M IL E STO NE E V E NT S •

Later in 2012 Observation of First World Radio day of Bangladesh on 13 February in collaboration of Bangladesh Betar – Government operated radio was also a part of integration of Government in the process. The 36th General Conference of UNESCO (held on November 3, 2011) approved the creation of the World Day of Radio. BNNRC's advocacy initiatives successfully involved Bangladesh Betar, Ministry of Information, FM Radio Channels and Community Radio Stations in the organizing the observation process at national level. As part of observing the Radio Day on the particular day seminar and colourful rally was organized at national and 14 CR Station level. BNNRC has published a poster on the occasion.

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BNNRC also organize First Bangladesh Community Radio Conference on 25 February, 2012 with the slogan “Community Radio for Social Change”. The three days long conference demonstrated the critical CR Movement in Bangladesh, as well as reviewed the functioning of the CR stations with regards to their operational structure and their engagement with the communities and provided the audiences an understanding of the different difficulties and issues regarding setting up of and running of CR stations in Bangladesh.

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BNNRC through a workshop on Broadcast Media Laws, Regulations and Freedom of Expression: Challenges and Opportunities of Broadcast Media in Bangladesh’ brought together the key actors to a common platform as well as sensitized the stakeholders at various levels of policy making and social advocacy for the reform and transformation of broadcast media laws and institutions in Bangladesh.

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BNNRC in partnership with ActionAid Bangladesh initiated a campaign “Incorporating Disaster Risk Reduction Issues in Community Radio Services in Bangladesh to promote active involvement of disaster prone and marginalized community in information and communication towards securing their lives and livelihood as well as to support and enhance knowledge and capacity of CRs initiators/practitioners on DRR/CCA matters that would result in a daily broadcast of DRR/CCA topics.

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BNNRC drafted and finalized a listeners' club guideline under UNICEF small scale funding assistance to effectively involve the listeners and community groups in finalization of the Draft Radio Listening Club (RLC) guideline.

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BNNRC implemented a project on "Raising Awareness for Citizen's Engagement in Budget Process” in collaboration with ANSA-IGS-BRAC University

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BNNRC provided training on Radio Journalism “Development News” for CR Professionals in November 2012 with the support of Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

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BNNRC provided training on “Development Advertisement” for CR Professionals in November 2012 demonstrating "Techniques and Means of Fund Raising for Community Radio"

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Talk shows on Community Radio: Four talk shows “Community Media for Development” have been telecast through electronic channels. These shows were telecast through RTV-a popular TV Channel of the country on 25th November, 2nd, 9th and 23rd of December 2012. The 4 episodes highlighted and discussed issues related to Policy, implementation, operation, achievements, challenges and future prospects of Community Radio in Bangladesh. The four episodes focused on 04 particular themes, those were Development, livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction and Knowledge Management. The exclusive Audio Visual Reports on 04 representative community radio stations namely Radio Jhenuk (Jhenedah), Radio Mahananda (Chapainawabganj), Radio Lokobetar (Barguna) and Radio Pollikantha (Moulvibazar) made good start of each of the episodes.

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Annual Planning Meeting –December: Annual planning meeting was organized at BNNRC on December 17 & 18. This meeting has reviewed the past activities which generated key points on achievements, challenges and the lessons learnt so far. Those review findings helped to plan for the activities of 2013 with FPU. Such findings also helped to prepare proposals for other prospective donors.

ANNEX-5-TOR

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